Morning Light: The Fetchland Gardening Wire

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Nicholls595 Jul 2022 12:45pm, 18 Jul 2022 29,227 posts	0 Nicholls595 My potatoes haven't flowered. Planted in fabric tubs as previous years, good growth* but no sign of flowers on either variety. Will there still be spuds? * starting to wilt a bit, can't decide if it's just the heat?
Velociraptor Jul 2022 1:16pm, 18 Jul 2022 58,875 posts	0 Velociraptor We have a water butt being delivered today. I've watered some of my containers and resurrected some very sick looking sunflowers as a result, but I'm hoping they'll cope until the forecast rain on Wednesday.
Eynsham Red Jul 2022 1:17pm, 18 Jul 2022 8,875 posts	0 Eynsham Red Are people watering their gardens? I don't have saved water (must get that set up for next year), so I am still watering the veg patch from the mains, but feel a bit conflicted: Water companies are asking us not to, which I can fully understand, but it is for food production... We are watering our raised beds at the pub. We have two 210litre butts which take a feed from a large outbuilding and fill readily when there is a bit of rain. Currently one is half full and the other just under quarter. Hopefully this will do us until the next shower.
GimmeMedals Jul 2022 4:01pm, 18 Jul 2022 22,951 posts	0 GimmeMedals Our water butt is now empty - I had the last of the water out of there 2 days ago - so we are using the hosepipe on the veg bed, as it is providing food. I've pulled out the nasturtium as they had mostly flowered and I didn't want them to drink any of the water I'm putting in. I'm hoping the rain forecast for all day on Wednesday materialises to help everything along. I've picked the last broccoli and a handful of runner beans to have this evening. The runner beans have taken off again after stalling last week.
Hanneke Jul 2022 4:06pm, 18 Jul 2022 91,214 posts	0 Hanneke No, I don't. As a result, all leafy veg has bolted. Thankfully, I like bitter lettuce! No squashes, as the need water and only a handful of borlottis. Broad beans doing ok on no water and after rescuing them from the ground, the peas seem to be ok as are the potatoes. I do water seedlings/seeds but my veg garden butts are now empty. I do water the greenhouse and pots though, from the 4000 litres of saved rain water. I have about 600 litres left...
Flatlander Jul 2022 4:19pm, 18 Jul 2022 2,534 posts	0 Flatlander I don't have as much rain water capacity as Hann, even though I have 13(!) water butts - 7x227L 5x168L 1x100L slimline by my front door (for the front garden) Total = c2,500L Most of them are empty/nearly empty so perhaps a total of about 300L left. I must get some more water butts! I am watering only my crops, as much to reduce their stress so they don't become susceptible to pests (blackfly, greenfly, mould etc.)
Flatlander Jul 2022 4:29pm, 18 Jul 2022 2,535 posts	0 Flatlander ThorntonRunner I wouldn't object to you using mains water for crops, as long as you are doing it in an efficient manner - cool of the late evening to reduce evaporation, use reservoir collars to water only the plants and not the surrounding ground, give lots of water once a week rather than a little every day so that the water soaks deep into the soil encouraging the roots to grow deeper to where there is more water rather than remaining near the surface. Others will have their own ideas and methods.
Hanneke Jul 2022 5:40pm, 18 Jul 2022 91,224 posts	0 Hanneke I have 1x 1000 litres IBT 2 x 530 litres galvanised tanks 3 x 240 water butts in series 2 x 340 litre galvanised tanks 1x 800 litre galvanised tank 1x 100 litre slimline butt I think that makes just over 4000 litres?
3M (aka MarkyMarkMark) Jul 2022 8:04pm, 18 Jul 2022 18,679 posts	0 3M (aka MarkyMarkMark) The granddaughters are coming tomorrow after nursery/school. Just as well, I've just finished using up the padding pool water from their last visit. (Pool will be in the shade by the time they arrive!) The greenhouse door is firmly open at the moment! Cucumbers are thriving in the sun though. Just wondering when the tomatoes will start to ripen Bow!
3M (aka MarkyMarkMark) Jul 2022 8:05pm, 18 Jul 2022 18,680 posts	0 3M (aka MarkyMarkMark) *now, not Bow!