Europe 2007

[roitelet]

Thank heavens the weather is a vast improvement on last week! The sun has shone for the entire week. At the beginning of the week the mornings were misty and then the sun came out and the temperature reached 18C twice during the week. On Wednesday the wind went to the North East and although the days were warm, out of the wind, the nights turned very cold with a temperature of -4 on Wednesday night. There has been a frost every morning since Wednesday and the whole week has been dry. Pity as I have just been able to put my water butts back as the workmen have finallly finished the rendering, (its only taken 6 months ) I will just have to wait!

A (singular) Swallow arrived on Monday and is still waiting for company. The woods are carpeted with Wood Anemones, the tadpoles in the pond have just reached the wriggling stage and the trees across the valley are just about getting a green haze on them.

The cabbage, cauliflower and onions in the cold frame are ready to be planted on the next suitable 'moon' day and I have potted on some of the Tomatoes, Peppers and Chillies. The Geraniums and Fuscias have been released from their isolation in the Flat and are now in a South Facing bed next to the house with a cloche and fleece over them at night.

Looks as if the weather is going to be like this for the next 10 days, have to get some more sun block!!!!!!!

[roitelet]

There is one word to descibe this week, HOT! Daytime temperatures have ranged from 18 - 25C (today) but the nights in the first part of the week were cold with a low of -3C and frost, on Thursday night the night time temperature was 11C and the last few nights have been warm enough for me not to take the tomatoes inside. However with all the hot sun the ground has become like concrete on the surface although it is still damp underneath, if you can break through. There has not even been a hint of the wet stuff.

The Pear trees which were just beginning to show white last week have bloomed and are now finished. The cherry trees both wild and cultivated are in full bloom and the flowering cherries in the garden are just coming out. I heard a Cuckoo the other evening and my solitary swallow still hasn't found a mate although there have been others around.

I have planted out the Caulflower and cabbage that were raised in modules and sown the peas and French beans (with protection). The early white onions sown on the 16th March have germinated and the PSB has just finished and the spring cabbage is hearting up nicely. Broad Beans are in full flower and there is no sign of blackfly at the moment. The Onions that were over wintered are bulking up nicely and the Strawberries have flowers and the beginnings of fruit.

It is getting to that time when I am running to keep up with myself, but then that is always what happens this time of year.

[roitelet]

Wall to wall sunshine and blue skys all this week BUT still no rain. Only 3mm in total this month in total Daytime temperatures have ranged form 19 - 25C and the night from -2 to +1C. I haven't seen any actual frost, if there was any it had gone by the time I got up.

Today I saw the first dragonfly hovering over the pond and a Hornet did a low pass.The Swallow has finally found a mate and it looks as though they will be nesting in the cow shed. I think that the first clutch of Blue tTts have flown.

The Broad beans are full of flower and bees and no sigh of blackfly so the tops haven't been pinched out yet Peas planted on the 9th of April are up and the potatoes planted on the 1st of April are just showing as are the Parsnips. Good because it was last years seed. The tomato plants will have to be potted on again as I dare not put them in the ground for at least another two weeks and the peppers and chillies are just showing the first flower buds. The spinach beet which was planted in modules went in the ground today.

Off to do a rain dance in the hope that I can get some water in the butts. Sure to rain next week as visitors arrive on Wednesday.

[roitelet]

Sorry it's a bit late this week.

Finally all the things that one does to make it rain worked. On Tuesday last week I cleaned the car for the first time this year CK Cleaned the windows and then on Wednesday visitors arrived. The we waited and waited and finally on Sunday there was a huge Thunderstorm and 25mm of rain

Temperatures have been high with 27C on Saturday and the lowest night time temperature on Monday last of 4C.

On the growing front things are romping away. There are bean pods on the broad beans and little or no black fly but I have now pinched out the tops in case. The courgettes are planted out and next Sunday the tomatoes and peppers wil go in the ground. Spring cabbage is hearting up nicely and the beetroot sown in modules in January are nearly ready for eating. Carrot germination looks a bit patchy at the moment. Peas are growing well and just beginning to climb. Early and maincrop potatoes are well up and the second earlies are just showing.

This is specially for Snadger, The Sweet peas are just starting to flower!!!!!

[roitelet]

Better late than never again!

A dry week again and after the high temperatures of last week it has now turned cooler. The week started with highs of 22 - 25C but by the end of the week it was 15 - 16C during the day. At night the readings were between 10 - 3C so it is feeling quite cold. After the wind being in the north to east quarter it has turned to the south west and become cloudy for the last 4 days so there is just a slim chance that we may get some r***.

The Tomatoes, Peppers and Chillies have all been planted out, each with their own perforated plastic house, which will stay there through out the season, a drip watering system and a handfull of nettles under each one. I am ready with the fleece just in case of frost .Looks like rows of phantoms standing to attention

Despite the dry weather things are really putting in a spurt, Lupins grown from seed last year are coming into flower and the flag Irises that had to be lifted for the builders were split and are now flowering as well. If anyone is passing they are free to a good home The grass does not seem to be affected by the dry weather and has to be cut regularly but is providing good mulching material for the flowerbeds. The local farmer has just delivered a large bale of straw which is destined for mulch on the potager. I have already put it round the strawberries which have some well formed fruit on them.

Watch this space!!

[roitelet]

Windy week with a few showers and I am really envious of all of you who posted on 'What I did Today'' and said that it was pouring with rain. The ground here is so hard that I cant get a trowel into it The areas that I have been able to mulch are still nice and moist and I am just waiting for the rest of the ground to get wet and then I can mulch it as well. The total wetness for this week has been 11mm.

The high temperature for this week was 22C and the low 3C and as I said windy enough that we lost a few branches off a tree.

There is a bit of a go slow on the veg front due to the dry weather. Today I have sowed PSB, Winter Cabbage and more Lettuce for succession.

The Iris Germanica are flowering well but then they dont mind dry conditions.

Big news of the week is that the first of the chickens have arrived a Cock and Hen but more of that when I can let them out and post some pictures in 'Rule the Roost'

[roitelet]

No need to be envious any more it has rained at some time every day of the past week 30mm all told. All the butts and anything else that I can find is full and ready for the next dry spell.

Daytime temperatures have ranged from 15 - 23C this week and the nights 3 - 11C. No frost thank goodness. The locals say that the risk of frost is not passed until the 25th so I still have the fleece at the ready.

The peas are just starting to flower and yesterday I picked the first Broad Beans. Probably the best I have grown thanks to NTG's advice and planting by the moon, 8 beans to the pod

Unselfishly I gave the first Strawberry to CK who said that he prefered Raspberries. Won't make that mistake again Things in general are putting on a spurt including the weeds but at least I can get them out now after the rain. Will have to spray the potatoes with Bordeaux mixture in the next couple of days before the tops meet in the rows.

The over wintered onions are throwing flower spikes, Espangole being the worst followed by Rouge de Florance and the Barletta hardly at all. The onions from seed are looking fairly good if a bit small and the winter sown garlic is looking really sick from Rust but not the spring sown.

Chickens have settled in well and more are expected in the next week so I have been frantically building another ark for the new arrivals.

Back to the UK on the 30th to collect Aged Parent.

[roitelet]

An unsettled week with wind, rain, hail, thunder and sun. We have had the warmest night this year 12C and the lowest that was recorded for the night was 6C. The high for the day was 28C followed by a spectular thunder storm. Rain for the week was 21mm and nowhere to store any more water

The rust on the Garlic has just got worse an worse So having decided not to cut the leaves I have been forced into cutting them off and drowning the stumps in Copper Sulphate so will just have to wait and see what happens. The Spring sown Garlic is also showing signs of rust so that has been sprayed as well along with the potatoes. The early spuds are in flower and should be ready by the 14th of June. The Tomatoes are beginning to set fruit and the drip watering system seems to be working well and at the moment 50ltrs lasts about 2 days. The plastic sleeves have been a bit of a problem as there is no way of anchoring them down and the wind makes them behave like Tibetan prayer flags. However I have now discovered that if the bottoms are rolled up and put in contact with the ground it does help as the rolled up bit collects water and holds everything in place.

I shall be away until 6th June so will have to rely on Ck to keep the records for me. Posting again in 2 weeks.

Bye All.

[roitelet]

Hi Folks, I'm Back!

CK did a good job with the weather for me while I was away. Now back to weeds and long grass, he doesn't seem to understand that if you don't keep on top of the grass cutting it becomes a problem.

Up until last Sunday the weather has been dry and we really do need some of that wet stuff. Total recorded since the last post has been 17.25mm which may sound a good bit but really isn't. The temperatures overnight have been anything between 2 and 14C and during the day from 13 to 26C.

On my return I found that the peas had gone manky and probably won't be any good. Not a plague, I think, but just lack of water. Tomatoes which when I left have put on a spurt and are now showing promise . Broad Beans are still doing well and the first lot of Caulies I planted look as if they will soon be producing curds. Early plantings of Cabbages look good but the later plantings of Brassicas are being slow to take off. Autumn sown Onions will soon be ready for harvesting and the rusty Garlic still looks sick but is sending up new leaves. Autumn planted Shallots are streaks ahead of the spring planted ones. Germination of Carrots and Parsnips has not been good this year and I think that it is because of wet weather followed by baking temperatures causing capping which has caused it.

As all the locals are saying 'the weather is 'Bizaare' !!!

[roitelet]

Well it's been a 'Soggy Sunday', fine this morning but bucketing it down by 2pm so any gardening was OFF. 13 mm today bring the total of the wet stuff to 40mm this week. We have had it all (well nearly) sun, wind, rain, thunder and heavy mist this week. The mercury reached 26C on Monday and Tuesday and has remained above 20 all the week during the day. The nighttime temperatures have ranged from 8 - 12C.

The Flowerbeds look a little battered after the wind and heavy rain which accompanied the Thunderstorms on 3 days.

I have pulled the peas up in disgust and have sown another row and will sow more as soon as I have space. Blight has struck the potatoes but seems to be under control with liberal doses of Bordeaux mixture. Today I dug the first Armandine and very Ummy they were. For the third time I have sown French Beans, the previous two sowings have been completely destroyed by Slugs. Looks as if the freezer won't be as full this year as last The first Cauliflowers are making good curds and we should be eating them next week. Tomatoes are doing well and the plastic sleeves seem to be doing a good job keeping the blight off.

Espangnol onions have been harvested and the Rouge de Florence and Barletta are still growing well. I shall certainly be sowing again in the Autumn and over wintering as I seem not to have had any of the problems that I have had in previous years from planting sets in the spring. I will just have to see how the January sown Onions do.

I have chopped the first two rows of Broad Beans down, fed and mulched them, in the hope that they will shoot again and produce more beans.

The weather forcast for the next 10 days doesn't show much improvement, will just have to wait and see.

[roitelet]

A quick one this week I'm afraid.

Temperatures 11 - 29C and rainfall 18mm and windy.

Garden looks like a battle ground what with all the wind and heavy showers.

Potato tops cut off in an attempt to get some kind of crop in spite of the blight.

Peas and French Beans replanted.

Tomatoes ripening, outside.

Pepper on a plant and chillies just showing.

Superb Beetroot, best ever.

Winter planted Garlic and shallots lifted

1st Cauli eaten

Off to UK on Wednesday to deliver Aged Parent and collect damaged Daughter.

Life is never dull!!!!!!!!!! Back in 10 days

[roitelet]

Well back finally AND got the computer connected!!!

Long story regarding the delay but I won't bore you with that. Suffice it to say that the best laid plans of mice and men/women have a habit of going pear shaped for a passtime.

During my absence the weather has been much of a muchness but as promised by the met men as of the 14th (Bastile Day) things have looked up.

Since the last post we have had a low of 7C on the 8th July and until things picked up the highest daytime temp. was 23C but yesterday it got up to 30C.

The weather in general has been showery with sunny intervals and not really the sort of thing that we expect in July. Total rainfall up until last night was 70mm.

Growing wise, the last sowing of peas and French beans have germinated and of the 50 leeks I planted before I went away I have 11 left, SLUGS. The plastic covers on the tomatoes seem to be keeping the blight off at the moment I only have one that looks suspect and that could be wind damage as the covers tend to flap and we have had quite a lot of wind. Peppers and Chillies are struggling.

Caulies are finished and I am waiting for the next ones, Red Cabbage are making good heads and the block planted onions (4 to a station) are swelling nicely. All the spring planted shallots and Garlic have now been harvested. Strawberries are doing really well for their first year and the Raspberries, which are also new are showing signs of producing a small late crop.

All the spud tops have been cut off and I don't think that they will store as the Blight arrived in June this year, normally it doesn't show its self until early August.

One of the locals told me that there has not been such bad weather at this time of year since 1999.

One really nice thing, I found 3 baby hedghogs which have been visiting on a regular basis.

Watch this space.

[roitelet]

Finally got rid of even more visitors who were on holiday and seem to think that I have one long holiday I should be so lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since the 16th there hasn't been much of a change in the weather, usual story showers, storms, a bit of sun, a bit windy and not at all warm. The mercury did just about manage to reach 27C on the 19th other than that it has been in the low 20s all the time. At night it has ranged from 8 - 12C. Wet wise there has been 70.5 mm of the wet stuff. This time last year I was praying for rain and doing rain dances, much to the amusement of the locals.

As for growing, I'm beginning to think that this year should just be written off

The peppers have had their plastic hats taken off and look as if they might do something. Chillies still look a bit sick but have lots of flowers, the Birds Eye chillies have just decided that they will grow. Tomatoes won't be much good, they are still under the plastic sleeves and they have kept the blight off but - the fruit is not setting well, except for the Cerise which have lots, the second truss on the whole is just non existent. On the other hand I am still picking Strawberries and the raspberry canes are showing a late crop.

Slugs have been a major problem this year but there have been very few aphids and as yet little problem with caterpillars, but then the weather has been too bad for butterflies although I did find two Swallowtail Caterpillars on the carrots. They don't seem to do much damage so I left them alone.

The workmen have just finished putting up a new fence as the neighbour is threatening to put sheep on the land and it has made a right mess of the mown weeds (grass). still I suppose the rutts will flatten out eventually.

The last two Mondays have brought some quite spectular thunder storms. I wonder what we will be in for tomorrow?

[roitelet]

Well last Monday turned out fine but today we are forcast storms again.

The temperatures this week have been a bit bizare, Tuesday night it fell to 4C overnight and yesterday rocketed to 31C by about 3pm. We have had 1mm of the wet stuff and a lot of SUN for a change so the ground, clay, has gone all hard except where it has been covered with straw where it is still nice and crumbly underneath.

The peas that I sowed late have flowers and pods on them, that is the round seeded variety but the wrinkle seeded ones have yet to make the effort. They are still not getting very high, they are dwarf and usually get to about 1m but this year they are still half that size. French beans have flowerbuds just showing. It must be the weather as even in the market there are no French, French beans they are all imported. The Rhubarb has been put to bed until next year, fed and mulched.

I am beginning to revise my opinion about the tomatoes although I don't think that it will be a heavy crop. Cerise are producing well, Moneymaker and Ferline look OK but Legend that I grew for their blight resistence dont seem to producing well at all. Think that I will give them a miss next year.

I started doing this on 15th August last year so it is nearly the year up so it will be interesting to do a bit of comparison. Thank you all for looking at my ramblings.

Other than that, not a lot else to report. Will try and post on Sunday evening next week if my net connection holds in the evening. ****** Wanadoo

[scarey55]

Hi Roitelet,
Thunderstorms.... Tell me about it. I have only just got around to reading your posts - Thanks for sharing them. We are in Puy De Dome (63) at the top of the departement - Just about on the border of Allier (03) It's so interesting to find that the same things seem to happen to you and us (builders mess, parsnips etc..) My Daughter lives in Paris, she came here for Christmas and her friend had to bring parsnips from the UK! I tried growing some this year but I think the seeds were old and I only have 1 so far, I'm thinking of sacrificing that one for seeds.
Anyway, weather wise, after a scorching couple of days 30's the promised rain has arrived. We didn't have the thunder expected although, OH didn't get a wink of sleep last night, like a coiled spring ready to turn off all computer equipment if it happened. We have lost countless ADSL filters and a couple of modems to the lightening spikes.
Hey Ho, although those here on holiday won't agree - the garden is thrilled!!
Look forward to hearing from you on Sunday.
Clare
ps - have a look at www.beaugut.com for our site and blog.beaugut.com for, well, our blog I suppose.