Fading Fruit Blossom

Although it's taken most of the morning for the sun to break through over the last few days the exceptional warm and dry spell of weather has continued this week. The only downside for us being the lack of rain which means digging over beds for planting is slow going and there's lots of watering of seeds and seedlings to be done at the allotment. Heavy showers are forecast for Friday and if they materialise they’ll be most welcome. 

On the plot the best of the fruit blossom has finished and our perennial flowers are starting to take over. Our first roses are opening.

Rose - Jacqueline du Pre

The first of our poppies are also coming into flower.

On the plot Sue managed to get our sweet peas planted out. The support for the sweet peas is constructed from our coppiced hazel bushes. The ground was very dry so we gave the planting area a good watering before and after planting.

I erected bamboo canes ready for our runner beans and climbing French beans. We’ll have to do some improvement to the soil before planting if we want a decent crop of beans. I’ve only just sown the beans in pots at home so hopefully we’ll get some rain before they’re ready for planting out. That will be the first stage of improving the soil where they are to be planted.

Our Onward peas, which are growing really well, I also got some twiggy sticks added along the rows for support.

Using twigs seems a very flimsy form of support as each piece is pushed into the ground. Each year I have my doubts about whether or not this method will work but it always has to date.

Copyright: Original post from A Gardener's Weather Diary http://ossettweather.blogspot.co.uk/ author M Garrett