Dripping Damsons and Pendulous Plums

In the week we were able to spend time in the polytunnel as it was raining. This was the first time for ages and it was long overdue.

There was weeding, tying up and in, trimming and harvesting to tackle.

The most astonishing thing was this pepper .... a small plant but loaded down with fruit.

 All the cucumbers have made good growth but probably not as much as usual. Those fruits touching the ground have been nibbled so it was important to get the vines up.

I think the polytunnel and its contents have suffered under temperatures of up to 49 degrees.

As per usual the self-seeded tobacco plants and ipomea were beginning to take over so we had to clear some.

After the torrential rain and winds, we made another visit to see the damage. On the whole it wasn`t too bad but I was disappointed to find a huge sunflower with multi heads, snapped at ground level.

We had to bin it.

Some others needed tying in.

I keep them dead-headed. 

 I checked on the fruit trees. The plum tree branches were laden and drooping to the ground.

The damsons were dripping purple but not yet ready.

The pears are good this year.

Let`s hope the wasps don`t get there first.

The sweetpeas have been useless this year.
When I think of the hard work that goes into raising the plants from seed .... its sad to see them go so soon.

Some of the beds still look good but I am worried about the Michaelmus daisies which provide our autumn colour.

The lower leaves are dying off.

I hope the rain may have curbed this trend.

The worst bed is next to the mini-stable.

There are huge lumps of concrete under these shrubs and perenniels and therefore it dries out quickly.

Monty Don on Gardeners World, advised cutting perenniels down, which I dutifully did.

And yes they are beginning to sprout again.

This is nepeta.

After the rain the dahlias may well improve.

In this photo you can see just how dry the grass has become.

 

There are sedums for sale in the tiny nursery. These of course, can cope with drought conditions.

 Here is a lush looking artichoke alongside the dead ones

 (now removed)

The sprouts have been devastated by caterpillars.

But Anne`s bed of salad crops is managing very well.

 

All in all a very odd season.

But I think we may have late developers which will surprise us all.