really OFF gardening !

A._Badger

I'm in the far South of England and if it's any consolation, my coldframe is full of plants I'm far too anxious to plant out - even down here!

I was speaking with someone from Bexhill in East Sussex today and she told me her car had frost on the windscreen this morning - and tonight promises to be even colder!

Meanwhile, a newsletter I received from a citrus nursery in the South says they believe we are four to six weeks behind.

The next person who mentions 'global warming' to me will be shot!

mardatha

I begin to see why Scots gardens over the last 200 years were called "kaleyards". Cos its the only bl00dy thing that is tough enough to survive !

Davesnave

TBH if I lived 1000' up in Scotland I'd take up fishing instead.

And there's polytunnels.....

Money_maker

I'm not far from A. Badger and they're right that the night time temperatures make planting out a no-no at the moment. It's also incredibly dry so outside pots are drying up and thegrass has slowed down growing. All the fruit blossom could benefit from a shower too. I do have 4 waterbutts nearly full but also a water-mad toddler so difficult to do too much with her around!

An old boy told me yesterday that a drop of rain would help the temperatures to come up a bit. TBH I cant stand roasting hot but a littler warmer would suit me fine.

WestonDave

If it helps the forecase for next week is for warmer weather as the wind swings to coming from a southerly direction rather than the northerly ones we've had of recent days. Metcheck at the moment is showing no rain for the West Country where I am until after the first week of May - don't think the water butt will last that long (especially as its only 100litres and the kids use it for water fights!)

juliettet

Im a little North of you Mardatha but not so high up.I have lost 2 clematis a beautiful mallow and next doors dog trampled all over my rhubarb. I am growing some veg in pots and sowed them yesterday. As long as I get lettuce and spinach through I will be happy as I spend a fortune on those. My Sister in Dorset has had her first new potatoes Grrrrrrr!

Spooneroonie

My (wonderful) wife bought me an apple tree and a cherry tree for our anniversary last year - these are drawing me out to the garden to watch their buds blossom out.

The trees having lured me into the garden, I thought I might as well have a go at getting something in the ground so have optimistically plugged some carrots, beetroot and parsnips in. I'm in central scotland, so perhaps a triumph of hope over reality.

Weather supposed to be nice on Sunday - Good luck!

mardatha

Oh juliette dont. Just dont tell me. The weather forecast was bad enough, and watching Sky News in London is making me yell at the telly !

chelms38

mardatha wrote: »

:mad: I cant get into the garden groove this year at all. After a long horrible winter, I was so looking forward to spring - but up here, it just hasn't sprung! Its a FREEZING cold north wind, we had some light snow yesterday and the forecast is for more snow tomorrow. The temp is 10C and the garden is just a waste of time. Nothing is growing but daffodils. I think I might forget it ....:(

Is there not a friend/family member/neighbour around who can help you get into the gardening groove? Once you get into it you will be glad you did. :T

RAS

mardatha

The season here in Yorks is really behind; the sloes have only just started to flower and they are usually the first.

I have not even planted most of my potatoes, and the onions are doing nothing. Most years one lot of rhubarb can be picked small (6 -8 inch stems) on the first weekend in March. This year, it was too small even at the first weekend in April, although I put a bit of fleece over it and it romped away the follwoing week.

And the artichokes were cut to the ground for the first time ever (they came from Skye).