Cool wet summer and garden production

Our cool wet summer is continuing. Every morning we wake in the hope of seeing blue skies, but even if it is clear it soon clouds over and the showers start. The temperatures have not got above 20 degrees Celsius for weeks now and it is often only about 16. The vegetables are growing but only slowly. Only the cabbages are thriving – they don’t mind the wet and cool temperatures. Though we have had plenty slug damage and some caterpillar damage too. We’ve been suffering some wind damage too.

Cabbage and wind blown brocolli

Slug damage

Caterpillar

Outside the courgettes and beans and even the mange tout are really struggling and look pathetically small.  There are plenty tay berries but they are not getting sweet and some are going moldy.

Tay berries

The red currants did crop well and there was enough for the blackbirds and for us. I made some pots of jam – as I like to add red currant jam to my gravies (because I am too lazy to make red currant jelly!).

Red currants

It’s the first year I have tried the brassica Romanesco – this is our first one and the other plants are looking healthy so fingers crossed.

Romanesco

There are fewer poppies than last year but they are still beautiful. The borage is proving popular with the bees.