I haven't posted for a while as I was hoping for some sort of change in our weather. I last posted regarding our cold start to July and how after the first couple of weeks it was the coldest July I've recorded in 10 years. Well, a week or so on and there hasn't been any great change and we are still waiting for some warmer weather to arrive.
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| Average July Temperatures 2010 - 2020 |
The actual values might not be too obvious but the bottom line is the average temperature this year is vying with 2012 for the coldest in ten years. After the first 21 days of 2012 the average temperature was 15.0°C (59.0°F) with this year slightly cooler at 14.8°C or 58.6°F. Our average July temperature over the last ten years is 17.4°C or 63.3°F.
Both daytime highs and nighttime lows are well below average for July and the result is that vegetables that prefer the weather a little bit more summer-like are struggling.
Our runner beans are struggling to grow up the canes and some of the plants are already starting to flower. I can only think that the cold weather is playing a part in slowing the growing process down. I suppose there is plenty of time for the runner beans to grow and produce a crop as they'll continue growing right through to the start of some frosty nights.
Our courgettes and squashes are struggling a little bit too. They seem to have taken ages to produce a decent amount of top growth. The photo above is our best Crown Prince squash just producing its first flower. We're just starting to pick our first small courgettes.
However, it's not all bad news. Our carrots appear to be enjoying the cooler weather.
Under their environmesh duvet, to protect them from carrot fly, they have produced some lovely healthy tops so I'm optimistic that we'll have some tasty roots underneath.
We've got some nice blackcurrants to pick and it would be so much nicer picking them if the weather would warm up a little bit and we got some pleasant sunshine.
Judging from the weather forecasts I think we'll be picking them in temperatures more appropriate for spring rather than summer.
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Ditto runner beans, although the Barlotti beans got away earlier and I am currently pinching them out at the top of the canes. It's the reverse of what I would expect.
ReplyDeleteCourgettes and squashes now a jungle. Heaven knows what is going on under that canopy. (I am licking any courgettes I do retrieve.) It has been an excellent blackcurrant year here too. The blueberries too are looking good. It would be a surprise to have a bumper crop for two years in succession.
Glad to here you're licking courgettes. It's a very strange year! I've come to the conclusion that the weather immediately after something is planted out is important. On our site runner beans that were planted out earlier have done better than ones planted out later as we did. Our runner beans had gale force winds and cold nights to contend with immediately after they were planted out whereas if they've got accustomed to outdoor conditions they cope better.
DeleteIt seems that the whole Europe is having colder summer than usual. Same story here, only our beans are thriving, but tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are almost dead. Rainfall amount is also huge. We're already at 110mm and another 50mm are expected tonight(average is around 80mm in July). It looks more like we've been stuck in May.
ReplyDeleteAt least our rainfall for July 55.0mm so far looks as though it will be around average. We haven't got any peppers outdoors but oddly our outdoor tomatoes and cucumbers are growing okay.
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