April had record rainfall : so did June, and in the first two weeks of July we have had three times the monthly average of rain so far. Add to this the fact that, when it has not been raining, it has been gloomy and cold, and the growing conditions have been appalling. Everything of mine that has not been eaten by slugs has just refused to grow. I put in three apple trees last autumn, of which two seem to have taken, but the third looks decidedly poorly. So far this year, we've had a few miserable potatoes, a couple of beetroot and some mange tout peas that, although they were grown from last year's seed, have been 50% inedible. Not good! I would be even more discouraged if everyone was not in the same boat - and I use that word advisedly! When the plot hasn't actually been under water, it has been too soggy to walk on.
We are promised, at last, a bit of summer this week. Let's hope so!
I dug my Kestrel early potatoes today. It was a very small harvest - about a third of what it should have been. However, I know why - I dug in a lot of chippings to improve the soil structure last winter (which it has done) and that used up the nitrogen in the soil. So next year I will add some slow-release fertiliser eg blood fish and bone - prior to planting. At least the quality of the potatoes was good - no slug damage, no blight and very little scab. Other people have had good foliage but the crops have rotted in the ground - too wet!
