Summer advice

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
Don't know if you've heard but we are meant to be having a mega hot summer. One report I saw was going to be 120 days of hot weather starting May time.
Yeah I know these are the people who said we were going to have a lot of snow and have a freezing cold winter.
Anyway being a newbie I was wondering if there was any advice on the best way to cope if we do have a scorcher wether it is the best way to save water after water butts, best mulch etc.
Or if you have any other advice on greenhouses and the heat, best way and when to water etc.
So just general advice and tips for us newbies.
Thanks

[Bill HH]

I shall sit under the tree with a Magnum and watch the whole damn lot shrivel up. I cant stand it too hot.

[AllInContainers]

I'll do what I always do, take it one step at a time and deal with whatever crisis is thrown at me when it happens. They can predict weather fairly accurately to within a few days, and kind of have a rough idea up to maybe 10 days or a fortnight, after that it's anyone's guess. Anyone making long term weather predictions like that is generally talking out of the wrong orifice and should be politely smiled and nodded at before you head of in search of someone sensible to talk to

[greenishfing]

I'll keep the sou'wester and snow boots handy if this is from the met office.

[Kristen]

I'll keep the sou'wester and snow boots handy if this is from the met office.

Or the Daily Express ... or anyone else for that matter. No one can forecast beyond 5 days or so, and even that is shaky - don't rely on it until you get the 2-day forecast.

In preparation for a dry summer you can:

Get a water butt. Trouble is the capacity you need is expensive relative to just buying perfectly good drinking water, from the water board (even if you are on a meter) and chucking it on the garden. I think that is morally wrong ... but the cost, relative to mains-water, of storing rain water is abysmal. 12-15 year payback at best.

Drip irrigation is the most frugal way of watering your plants, and one that water boards permitted during the last hosepipe ban. Lots of Boy's Toys to play with - if you like that sort of thing. Lots of very narrow pipes to get blocked, or caught in the mower! too.

Mulch is good for conserving water. Forget about drought and hosepipe bans, that is worth doing anyway as you will get better crops, and spend less time having to water them.

[Greenleaves]

Should the unlikely heatwave happen or even if it doesn't only water in the evening. We all not the wet leaves will get burnt in the sun butin addition the water does not have time to penetrate the soil do a beneficial depth but the evaporation process begins.

[rustylady]

Do not think you have to water every day if crops are grown in open ground.

[Spunky]

I save my water from the bath and syphon it into a water butt out of our window, great fun that is when me my wife and 3 daughters have all had a bath and you swallow a bit sucking on the hose

[Loubear]

I recently bought some joey cans (I think they are called that) from eBay after someone on here posted a link to someone selling them for a pound each. They are great for collecting water in the shower or recycling the run off when you water pots.
I've also heard of people cutting up old washing up sponges and putting those in pots along with the compost - I guess the idea is that they hold onto water.
Like others have said though, I won't believe there's a heat wave until it's here!


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[Potstubsdustbins]

I shall sit under the tree with a Magnum and watch the whole damn lot shrivel up. I cant stand it too hot.

Give us a lick Bill pretty please, that's providing it's not a Smith & Wesson magnum.

Potty

[Potstubsdustbins]

Last time they forecast a barbecue summer we needed pumps to clear the water.

Potty

[Mumbles]

Just heard on the weather we are due 3 month heat wave starting this week...this was closely followed by the words 'we may have snow Easter weekend' not sure how they've worked that one out!


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[Dorothy rouse]

I shall sit under the tree with a Magnum and watch the whole damn lot shrivel up. I cant stand it too hot.

Can I join you Mr B?

[noviceveggrower]

I can't stand it when it gets to hot. I get covered in prickly heat spots. So don't sleep well in hot weather. Just end up grumpy.