The upside to all this rain

[PyreneesPlot]

It looks as though we'll get some runner beans this year. Normally by now it is too hot and dry for the beans to set, but whilst the melons rot and the slugs frolic the runner beans are going all beany

My aunt lives in Provence and told me I would not be able to grow runners down here. Red rag to a bull plus Painted Lady are so pretty up the bean frame how could I not.

Any other unexpected wet weather bonuses out there?

[chris]

I don't have to water my hanging baskets

[alldigging]

I always wanted a lake...

Seriously though the sun is out here thank goodness. The garden and allotment are soaked beyond belief!

[ItsEssexRob]

Cant see one myself. Its my first year doing GYO and im feeling rather disheartened by all the effort I made going down the drain.

[lukens]

I feel kind of like Rob, with the added disheartenment that I put a lot of effort, and money, into creating raised beds that would need as little watering as possible, as well as having bought a load of drought tolerant plants and seeds for ornamentals elsewhere in the garden.

To be honest, I kind of feel this rain is all my fault, sorry guys!

[Bigmallly]

Apart from a few things being on the slow side, most of my stuff has thrived espescially, the beetroot, courgettes, onions, brassicas & carrots & tatties & strawberries &.............sorry....

[chris]

VeggieChicken can flush her loo knowing the water used was all free!

[veggiechicken]

Chris, just because I said you were odd, you don't have to mention my loo - it'll be my Pee-can next

[CaroltheCarrot]

Nope still cant think of an upside

[Gemmalaveen]

I think the upside is the amount of time and water I have saved by not having to water my container vegetables every day.

Hang in there Lukens & EssexRob - my first year wasn't great either. I had a tiny London patio garden with a bad aspect (i.e. no sunshine). The only thing I harvested that year was lettuce.

[Jeanied]

I have just harvested two big field mushrooms from the school field - it is going to be a good year for fungi as long as you know what you are picking!

[BUFFS]

we seem to be getting a bumper tattie crop so far,but ,a bit of a shock,after three and a half weeks,the sun came out,and stayed out for over four hours,thats better than the june total ,and better than last year,gooseberries seem to love these conditions too,so its going to be chips with everything and gooseberry fool for a gardening fool ,for some time to come,it could be worse,it could have been beans,making the rest of the year a remake of "wind in the willows".....

[dominic10]

In March I was watering and watering and watering. I dislike watering but it has to be done. The main thing I hate about the rain is not being able to get out to the allotment or do all the jobs in the garden but there is no watering to be done! And apart from a few failures, things seem to be growing at last. And plenty of time for summber she says.

[lottie dolly]

Apart from a few things being on the slow side, most of my stuff has thrived espescially, the beetroot, courgettes, onions, brassicas & carrots & tatties & strawberries &.............sorry....

Now,someone is showing of ,and rightly sooooo,says she with a waterlogged lottie,and not much doing,althought the inside toms are looking not bad,but need toms on,whats your secret young fella,

[Rocketron]

Cant see one myself. Its my first year doing GYO and im feeling rather disheartened by all the effort I made going down the drain.

Don't be disheartened, Rob.
This "summer" has caught out a lot of people.
Every year has its challenges, this one is "How do I grow rice?"