What an Indian summer in 2012 means in the context veg growing?

[CimaDirapa]

If by miracle the jet stream will decide to visit the north fringes of Europe and get a bloo**y move on, and say that we will get a nice August then apart from a bit more growth will it make any difference?? as by that stage we will be way after the growing season's pick

[Jeanied]

Squashes, courgettes and pumpkins will hopefully get a move on and start producing some bounty.
And the hedgerows will be full of blackberries.

[dominic10]

Good weather means we'll be able to catch up with all the gardening jobs that need doing. Things are late this year so they may be able to catch up. Lots of tomatoes (if they don't get blight). I also grow squash and am growing winter crops such as PSB and kale for the first time so any good weather would be really good. Isn't it St Swithuns day sometime soon? I was planting squash out today during a shower. I wear glasses so it's a pain in the ****.

[PyreneesPlot]

If you have a later summer the tender stuff may keep on fruiting.
2011 I was still picking peppers and chillies from outside the first week in December. In 2010 we had already been skiing for a week by then and were into the leeks and snips...

[Nicos]

I think I may get some more fleece to help the tender plants last a little while longer. No idea if they will do much more- but it'll be worth the effort if we also have an Indian summer.

[binley100]

Courgettes and beans produce until the first frost.....

[Paulottie]

I dunno, but I've just taken another 100 sweetcorn to lottie hoping for a few cobs come october!.I have'nt had a runner or tomato yet. The french climbers are grazed of by molluscs. I try to keep sowing stuff but am rapidly losing the will. Everytime I step out the workshop with an hour to spare its persisting down. Now sowing spinach and pak choi to hedge my bets on another cool season

I've been to India in summer it was 45 c every day...would have to go it some to resemble that.

One thing I do know is unless something miraculous occurs the price of food will be astronomical.

[solway cropper]

My growing season lasts all year although it does slow down in winter. I've been sowing loads of stuff in modules ready to go out as soon as space comes available. Planted out five cabbages today and I've sown lettuce, spring onions, pak choi and carrots. I'll keep sowing until the end of August/early September and if we do get some decent weather it'll be a bonus.

I know that yields of most things are down but some plants actually seem to be enjoying this weather. I've had my best ever radishes and beetroot, carrots and broad beans are performing well and the bush fruit is as good as any other year.

Agree with Paulottie that food prices are going to go up but, thankfully, I don't buy much anyway and our local greengrocer is cheaper than the supermarkets.

[Paulottie]

I think the problem is quite serious SC....I don't know anyone who has made any hay, All the cereals are fat but even if it does stop raining for a few days with shared combines and the cost of drying it. Flooding has rotted a lot of the spuds round here....time's iz gonna be hard.

I've barely bought a vegetable in over ten years but I'm struggling. Bush fruit looks good as you say but it is all watery...blackcurrants like grapes.. but the jelly looked like redcurrant.

sorry ... starting to moan!

[SarzWix]

The farmers have managed to get hay and silage in up here Paul, and the fields look ready for a second cut in the next week or so. I'm trying to be optimistic because we've had some sunshine this week and already things have picked up a bit.
If we get a longer season it will give pumpkins, squashes, courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans a chance to keep cropping for longer. It will also give winter crops better growth before the cold hits them so that would give bigger leeks, cabbages, kale, PSB, garlic, over-wintering onions, spring greens etc.