New GYO Poll: Are you a fair-weather gardener?

[Two_Sheds]

I really suffer from very painful hands in the cold, so these days I avoid the lotty on cold wet days: gloves don't help (I have to wear gloves and scarf indoors, even with the heating on).

I still manage to get up the plot once a week, all year round, because we're in one of the driest, sunniest parts of the UK.

[Jardiniere]

I dont garden when its very hot - and it reached 41 degrees here this summer.
(but i do water)

[blue411]

My allotment is in my back garden, but this doesnt stop me doing what needs to be done in the rain, my partner thinks im nuts but when he see's me getting too wet he makes me a cup of tea to warm me up.

[Nicos]

I used to work a 60 hr week , so had to go to the lottie whatever the weather.
I now don't work...so *ahmmm.*..yup- I've become a fair weather gardener! ...and why not eh???

[horticultural_hobbit]

Have visited the plot when the snow has fallen; it looked beautiful, like an iced cake. Have to shoe horn visits around school work, so can spend ten minutes there or an hour upwards depending on what I find to do or the weather. Light showers are okay, can deal with them. Less so when it comes down in sheets. I get wet, the plot turns into mud cake. Not so fun with the blazing hot son neither. Tend to go there with a specific task in mind, and try to get as much of it done as possible. Try to do little bits and often. Have withdrawal symptoms if I stay away longer than a few days.

[Bren In Pots]

So long as the soils not covered in snow or solid with frost I always find something to do in my back garden veg plot, failing that I've got a GH to potter around in.

[Feral007]

We've been overwintering a few things so keeping an eye on them, and encouraging them along. Herbs were doing well till half way thru winter and they are just waiting for spring now.

Pruned apple trees, planted new fruit and berry bushes, moved some other fruit trees. Planted some grape vines. Can't stand the really windy days. I do go out in the rain in summer because it's good to plant in wet ground then. If nothing else I love sitting on the front steps, or at the table in the back yard with a coffee and a couple of kelpies and just enjoying it.

[sammy_roser]

I am a fair weather gardener at the moment, I currently don't grow any crops over the winter months so only have to go out there to prepare my soil and get some seeds on the grow.

[planetologist]

10 months of the year I am a fair weather gardener, because there's always enough fair weather to get things done, only weeding the carrots when it rains, because carrot fly doesn't fly then so I can remove the netting. In April and May I spend every spare minute in the garden, irrespective of the weather. Having said that, I harvest dinner veg every day, no matter the weather.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Snow, which we normally have plenty of, and frost which is also normally a problem definitely keep me from my plot. The soil is part clay and when wet is very sticky yet also very slippery and dangerous. As my plot is on a steep slope, 1:8 in parts, it's safer to stay clear until the soil is dry enough to work.

[Potstubsdustbins]

As I grow in containers I have to water some plants (runner beans) for instance even when its raining. My neighbours think I nutty but they do like a nice handful of fresh veg now and then.

Colin

[VirginVegGrower]

I was planting lettuce this year when we had hailstones the size of marbles. If veggies have to go in, then veggies will go in. I have to say with the diabolical weather we have had, I've been sowing more green manure than anything else this year, but I look forward to a better 2013.

[Alison]

If the rain etc is too bad I resort to working in the polytunnel if on the plot or the shed or greenhouse at home. I can be put off certain jobs if it's too wet and there does come a time when the ground is too frozen to weed etc but there are always other jobs to do - winter is a particularly good time for getting on top of general jobs as at least the weeds don't carry on growing (well not much anyway) so if you make it tidy, it stays tidy

[BUFFS]

i seem to be more fairweather as i get older,but i love those brilliantly cold sharp days in midwinter,its such a clean cold, it makes you feel great (properly wrapped up of course),then as the fingers start to go numb, its back up the garden,indoors,coffee,warm up,then back out again to do a bit more,i dont know how many weeds i do to the coffee,but not a lot,just keep going til its done or dark,,these days are then finished off with a stew/hotpot/casserole or the like,and feet up by the fire as your skin tingles in the warmth....bliss..

[Normans Mum]

OH..... definately die hard. Nothing will stop me from going down the lotty ! Have been down there when the heavens have opened and great sheets of water were torrenting down the sides of the greenhouse
It was like being under the sea.... I just carried peacefuuly on, potting away, whilst occasionally looking skyward to ensure the water wasn't coming through the roof !