Allotments 4 All

Planted a second load of squash plants about 2.5 weeks ago, and i think the cool weather isn't helping.  they have gone slightly yellow (in good fertile soil), so i am thinking that the cold weather isn't helping with the nitrogen uptake

  The original ones planted seem fine,(good size now) so ive now taken to putting the mini poly tunnel frames and plastic covers back on , over about 25 plants!,

Seems to have made quite a difference temperature wise, after 2 hours a lot warmer inside. 

Is anyone else finding this less then warm weather isn't helping their squash/pumpkin plants?

My outdoor cucurbits are still in the GH in a series of ever increasingly large pots.... will run out soon adn have to plant out... prolly this weekend...

I keep getting mine out then putting them back... but they have to hit the soil this week... come Hell or high water,,,  :-X

My squashes are in the open soil in the plot and like yours Phil roots deep in good nutrient, but they are up to their necks in this rain and loving it.......not  :( Even with my spent hops around them to aid drainage.

It does make one appreciate what the commercial farmers have to plan for, suffer with and make a living out there somehow.

Ninny

my strawberries were ok in the cold and produced lots of fruit but the constant rain has rotted the ripening fruits and the crop is a disaster. Brassicas are thriving, potatoes are behind, marrow and courgettes are wind blown and way behind. Sigh, it is pretty tough this year and I also think of the commercial growers and pyo people

My squashes are still in pots in the greenhouse too  :(
So are my main lot of runner beans and some climbing beans
Sweet corn needs to go out this week...

I'm going to try and cloche some of my squash as they go out as there doesn't seem to be any real improvement in the weather forcast.

Mine are going out this week...  :-X

No wonder some of my squash have died of .not a good year. Will the weather turn it around next week?

I'm glad (sort of!) to hear we're all on the same boat. my coldframe is bulging with stuff that should be outside by now!

Luckily my plots are very sheltered as they surrounded with high hedges...untill OH gets his act together and birds have nested for a good hedge trim...so, lot of the crops that are out are looking so far OK. Not brilliant , but will do.

Squashes I started to plant few days ago and they are surrounded with high mulch of straw..sort of living in the middle of mulch 'hedge' as I left clearance around each plant to stop the small plants rotting if getting under heavy and wet layers.

Yesterday I started to plant first bedding plants, normally they would have been out couple of weeks by now.. ::)

I only have runners planted out of beans and all others are still unsown or still germinating/growing in GH.
I'm definately late with many crops and this year its is not my own fault..suppose it is relief of sort.. ::)

 I planted three courgettes outside a couple of weeks ago and they are not doing well.  I still have some in the greenhouse and they have babies on them.  I think I will pot them on and leave them in there! 

I have planted runner beans but French ones are still in pots.  Hopefully the weather will improve soon.  So much for flaming June!! ::)

Yes, French beans and teh squash are not too happy but they are growing still, If we get a little sun, they will probably take off pretty quickly.

Quote from: antipodes on June 12, 2012, 09:41:57
Yes, French beans and teh squash are not too happy but they are growing still, If we get a little sun, they will probably take off pretty quickly.

The hot spell made thrn grow and when under plastic seemed pretty happy so hope now they are mostly under plastic they will grow nicely

We've had to plant everything out as we're away in Brighton for a week from thursday, it'll all just have to make do  :)

Phil, my squash were planted out just at the beggining of thatrecent week of hot weather and they have managed to get established.  Yes, growth has slowed down but now they are established they will pick up and respond as the weather changes.

I find that if they are planted out and have to wait to long for some good weather then they get badly stunted.

After a second year of poor weather I am getting the feeling that I need to cover my plot with super big greenhouses or tunnels as everything that comes out of the greenhouse is lush, only to sit outside in crappy weather.

Take one of my giant pumpkins for instance, it is under cover and is currently 8' long and 5' wide.  I have one that is completely exposed to the elements and it is just a stump at the moment.

I'm going to build a net-sided glass topped frame for my plot to at least get some of the pumpkins out, they're getting too big in the GH.... will need to gutter it to deliver water though...

My stuff had little spurt in that recent sun.......it needed that wet....it's all stopped dead in the cool....now bring on the sun.

Squashes I started to plant few days ago and they are surrounded with high mulch of straw..sort of living in the middle of mulch 'hedge' as I left clearance around each plant to stop the small plants rotting if getting under heavy and wet layers.
I kneeled down to put last few plants into their 'slot's as I put the mulch down already ready to wait the plants to grow little bigger. The layers underneath my knees were warm.. :o ;D
No wonder the cold weather haven't had effect yet..they been cosy as ever amongst their 'hot tubs'. Its good thing that I left some bare soil around each plant.. I might have over done with mulch layers... :-X ;D

I've got squash, courgettes, french beans still going in and out of greenhouse every day - haven't dared plant them as slugs/snails would just eat straight away. Runners suffering terribly from high winds and more forecast this weekend. What a nightmare summer!