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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: lottie lou on September 06, 2011, 10:20:11

Title: Storms
Post by: lottie lou on September 06, 2011, 10:20:11
Help.  The storm last night brought down my best squash that was tied to the fence and the growing vine has snapped off.   I know it won't grow any more but should I leave it out to mature or bring it in.  The other end of the vine is now on the ground as well.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: Digeroo on September 06, 2011, 10:26:56
How frustrating.  Very windy here too.  Not ventured down to the lottie to see the damage.  One of my neighbour all this tomatoes were on the ground.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: brown thumb on September 06, 2011, 10:52:03
we had high winds as well  i havent been to the plot yet as its raining hard still
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: redcoat on September 06, 2011, 11:10:26
Had high winds last night too.

I lay in bed thinking we were under attack. Above the sound of the wind I could hear volleys of apples hitting the shed roof-

  -rushed out this morning in my jimjams to collect them before the fillpin' pigeons got them.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: pumkinlover on September 06, 2011, 11:14:02
 ;D
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: Dandytown on September 06, 2011, 11:37:27
I have moved mine to the greenhouse so that they have somewhere 'warm and sunny' to cure.  Warm and sunny, thats a joke this year isnt it.

My greenhouse is open so if the weather does improve it will not get too hot.  Apparently too much heat makes the flesh fibrous.

Jeannine would be a good person to ask.  Quite experienced with squash and pumpkins
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: Chrispy on September 06, 2011, 12:12:39
Do you mean the plant with the fruit on is intact and just the growing end has broken off.

If so, then it should be fine, as I know someone who strims of all the growing tips once the plants have filled the space, and the plants don't seem to mind.

I was supprised how little damage was done on my plot, the sweetcorn is at 45deg but other than that just a little tidying of the been frames.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: lottie lou on September 06, 2011, 12:21:28
No I mean the other side of the vine.  The part from the main plant.  Sadly the tips appear to to fine.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: antipodes on September 06, 2011, 13:28:21
Sadly once the vine dries up to the pumpkin, I don't think it will ripen much more, but they do improve in flavour after a few weeks in storage so maybe it will be edible after all? Jeannine might have more to say.
One of the disadvantages of growing up a trellis - on the ground they tend to be firmly anchored and put out peripheral roots...so less vulnerable to breakage, although occasionally I have stepped on one  :(
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: ajb on September 06, 2011, 18:45:33
judging by the weather forecast here it doesn't seem likely that you'll be able to leave it out in the sun! Try putting it in an airing cupboard for a week or two to toughen up, but probably best to try it early rather than try to store it.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: saddad on September 06, 2011, 20:54:21
It's a bit "blustery" here tonight... hoping the Sunflowers stay up for the Open Day!  :-X
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: gavinjconway on September 06, 2011, 21:43:51
A workman this morning put a ladder against our opposite neighbour garage flat roof that he was inspecting ... a few minutes later a storm blew up and blew his ladder down... and we had 1/2 inch rain in a few mins... we didn't see it happen but saw him standing against the house gable side wall flat like a spider to try to miss the rain... only just... once we saw this I raced out and put his ladder up for him to get down... he was most gratefull that I had seen him like spiderman...
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: galina on September 06, 2011, 22:57:27
We lost a large branch off our full sized Bramley apple tree.  And about a hundredweight of apples were blown to the ground.   Some lesser damage to the other fruit trees.  Worst time for a gale with the trees in full leaf and fruit.   :(
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: gavinjconway on September 06, 2011, 23:00:13
My new rooftop greenhouse is half glazed now and had to put my tie down wires an rather hastily tonight!!
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: lottie lou on September 06, 2011, 23:18:36
Quote from: antipodes on September 06, 2011, 13:28:21
One of the disadvantages of growing up a trellis - on the ground they tend to be firmly anchored and put out peripheral roots...so less vulnerable to breakage, although occasionally I have stepped on one  :(

Lesson learnt = back to growing on the ground next year and fighting the slugs.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: cambourne7 on September 06, 2011, 23:41:36
Not great last 2 days fingers crossed tomorrow will be better as i have a load of weeding to do.

Sorry to hear about damage though hugs to all xx
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: antipodes on September 07, 2011, 09:06:32
Quote from: lottie lou on September 06, 2011, 23:18:36
Quote from: antipodes on September 06, 2011, 13:28:21
One of the disadvantages of growing up a trellis - on the ground they tend to be firmly anchored and put out peripheral roots...so less vulnerable to breakage, although occasionally I have stepped on one  :(

Lesson learnt = back to growing on the ground next year and fighting the slugs.

Well, maybe there is a way to compromise, by having a certain part of the plant on the ground and then get it to climb a bit further one. I had a few climbing things this year, a first for me, such as cucumber, I will do it again as it is a space saver. I left the heavier pumpkin plants on the ground though.
I don't seem to get slugs so I have never had them eat squash!
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 07, 2011, 19:20:00
Nothing I'd call a real storm here, but I made a large greengage crumble with the fruit blown off my tree.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: lottie lou on September 07, 2011, 19:23:02
Went down lottie today and found runner bean wigwam flat on the ground.  A first for me.  Just glad I am not a red indian and was living in one.
Title: Re: Storms
Post by: gwynleg on September 09, 2011, 13:17:12
One lot of purple beans has come down altogether (Wickes metal arch completely broken up) and runner and green beans listing badly. I had to make repairs but think its going to be even more windy this weekend so hope the repairs are good enough. It seems very early for this!!