Loosing the battle

[Garden Manager]

I dont know about anyone else but i feel sooooo behind with everything this year. I know the weather hasnt helped but still feel that no matter how many hours I put into the garden I dont feel as if I am getting anywhere, particularly on the veg plot where I have as yet planted or sown very little. My potatoes were about 3 weeks late going in, onions/shallots ditto.

I normaly grow a lot of my first (hardy) crops in module trays, particularly salads and in 3/4 weeks since sowing these have barely grown and many have simply rotted off and died. In years past many of the crops grown in this way have been long since planted and one year I was even cropping some lettuces in the first week in may!  I am going to have to resow I think.  As for more tender crops, dont ask. Tomatoes OK Chillis OK but I havent even thought about my runner and french beans yet!

The ornamental garden isnt much better. I have a bed next to the veg plot for growing cut flowers. The bed is still full of spare/growing on plants I meant to plant out into beds and borders ages ago but are still in situ. A major clearing and planting operation is now needed before I can plant out my sweet peas and sow other cut flower plants.

You see the problem I have. I want to do these things and have a nice garden for the summer, but its finding the time for it all.......

I think what has set me back the most apart from the weather is a problem I have had with a border at the top of the garden. The boundary fence behind it got damaged in the march gales and needs replacing. Unfortunately it was discovered the fence was about 18 inches off the boundary on the neighbour's side (so we have a strip of garden that isnt ours). So I have had to replant part of the border, moving the plants on the wrong side over on to the correct side of the boundary. This was very time consuming since it included several decent sized shrubs. Annoying as the time could have been better spent not to mention that the border was only renovated last october and starting to look really good!

[Garden Manager]

[saddad]

It'll all pick up with a gloriously sunny May, fingers crossed, we are about 4 weeks behind last year here in Derby.
;D

[Tulipa]

I feel exactly the same, but the weather has been much worse than normal for this time of year so I have only started sowing seeds indoors today and my potatoes are still chitting!  

I think we will still catch up as often late sown seeds have a way of catching up when the weather is better.  Don't worry, just enjoy your garden and do what you can, there's always next year.

I am sorry to hear about your fence problems, that hasn't helped either I am sure!  We have been waiting to have a tree taken out and now can start on the flower borders so are in a very similar situation.

Good luck.  T.

[bupster]

GA, you actually sound ahead of me and I'm not in the least bit worried. I'm bunging most of my stuff straight in the ground with the exception of tomatoes and some squash and beans. Oh, and sweetcorn, which I haven't even started yet. The weather this year is back to how it should be, we're just feeling guilty because we're used to heatwaves in March and that sort of nonsense. Your border is really a pain and I'm sorry, but please don't lose heart, it's going to be a good year and everything will catch up  :)

[Paulines7]

I have concentrated on sowing everything in pots in the greenhouse. 

I haven't dug my vegetable beds yet and they are full of nettles but I am not going out there until the weather improves.  My potatoes are still chitting though I have 3 large containers with some in, sitting just outside my greenhouse.  I had to move them outside as I needed the room. 

Here are my nettles. 

[asbean]

Those nettles will make great nettle fertiliser  :) :) :)

[Barnowl]

or soup

[posie]

I think most of us are in the same boat.  Most of my stuff I've started in the unheated greenhouses but I just haven't got the time til after 12 May to spend planting!  It's driving me nuts!  I've got Little Gem lettuces having raves in my gh at the moment and as for the sprouts....... :D

But I have a feeling once planted, the plants will grow when they need to.  ;D

[cornykev]

This time last year we had the dryest April on record, not a drop of rain fell on Enfield so we were all planting out and getting on with things, I have no greenhouse and don't want to put the plastic one up yet so my kitchen is full of pots. ( note to myself must get a Georgie style shelf on the windowseal ) So I think we are all behind GA, May was one of the wettest on record so lets hope we have a reversal this year, so good luck and you will catch up.  ;D ;D ;D

[Trevor_D]

I think we all feel the same way. Last week, I could have given up completely. Between the slugs, snails, aphids, pigeons and the cold & wet I've lost a fair bit of what I've sown, planted or over-wintered.

But things will pick up! Won't they...........?

[caroline7758]

Ditto here!

[Lindsay]

I am behind here because the spring has been much cooler and wetter than normal - the vegetables that are out are loving it though (just had a first picking of beautifully sweet garden peas). This time last year I was having to water everywhere, this year the weekly downpour is sufficient.

My tomato plants are beginning to wonder just when they are going to leave their pots and get out to stretch their roots! 

[Garden Manager]

Thanks for replies. Sorry I havent responded earlier - far to busy am afraid. What with normal work and the garden its all been a bit hectic. In fact I am only on here now because i have forced myself to have a few hours break!

I think I am getting there slowly. Still miles behind though, however as plant growth is still very slow for the time of year, nature has at least given me a chance to catch up.

Still nothing much doing on the veg plot. Most of the plants growing there are ornamentals in need of replanting into the borders! Havent got any veg grown big enough to plant out yet. Have had to keep some overwintering crops going longer just to show its a veg garden!

Its a releif though to hear others are equally finding things hard going this year. I can see May is going to be a manic month (when is it not?); planting, potting on hardening things off  and so on. Never mind we'll get there even if things are a bit late. Extends the season doesnt it?