What have you learnt from the heatwave/drought?

[veggiechicken]

The extreme weather we've had this summer has been very unusual in the UK. No rain for weeks and higher than usual temperatures have taken their toll on the gardens/plots and drained our waterbutts.
Its also been an opportunity to observe how resilient your garden is when faced with these extreme conditions.

I'm a no-interference gardener and let the weather and nature work it out between them, letting them choose what lives or dies. The only watering I do is the greenhouses and seedlings in modules.

The losers:-
Pots and hanging baskets have needed too much watering - so they are dead.
The area that used to be chicken run where I had started some veggies have also died because they are in the rain shadow of next door's trees and also too shady for summer crops.
Fruit trees and bushes planted earlier this year are suffering and may not survive.
Strawberries in pots
Slugs and snails

The winners:-

Established fruit trees and bushes
Perennial flowers
Courgettes (Not watered)
Strawberries in the ground

Changes to make in case of hot weather again next year:-

Plant old chicken run with fruit bush cuttings to feed the birds & chooks
Add more water butts
Dot more "miniponds" around the garden for the birds/wildlife
Plants in pots/baskets to be near the house/tap/waterbutt so there's less carrying of watering cans.
No more bedding plants (again)
Grow more perennial flowers/bushes
More mulching

I'm sure there's more to do so I'm hoping you'll share your thoughts and experiences.

[muck lover]

I think I have learned/confirmed the ‘power of the mulch’.
Also that if I have to choose between edibles and non edibles it’s tough luck on the flowers every time.
I have started wearing a hat whilst working on the garden!
Also have come close to civil disobedience regarding hosepipe bans.

[Greenleaves]

I've learnt that watering makes your arms ache!

On a serious note, I need to add my organic matter to soil to help retain moisture

[treepixie]

Put more shading over the greenhouse, my greenhouse is in full sun all day and the tomatoes have roasted and the cucumber had curled up and died, and don’t get me started on the chillies

[nickdub]

Main lesson :- if I want to be away from home for more than 12 hours in the growing season I'm either going to have to put in an automatic watering system, or abandon any hopes of growing veg plants in the poly-tunnel at that time. (too much work to ask anyone-else to do it)

[Jay-ell]

I think I have learned/confirmed the ‘power of the mulch’.
Also that if I have to choose between edibles and non edibles it’s tough luck on the flowers every time.
I have started wearing a hat whilst working on the garden!
Also have come close to civil disobedience regarding hosepipe bans.

Definitely agree with the mulch. I'd add that it's worth buying in a bale of straw earlier on in the season rather than just wait for grass clippings as these are rare in a drought. Mulching early in the season, when the soil is still moist and we still had rain, keeps more moisture in the soil.

I have a Pith Helmet, may sound silly but the wide brim casts a large shadow and they're designed to be put into water to soak up and then as the water evaporates it keeps the head cool.

I've learnt that watering makes your arms ache!

On a serious note, I need to add my organic matter to soil to help retain moisture

Also agree heavy mulches of organic matter through the year to build the beds up and shade the soil, starting with manure or compost in the spring and continuing with straw, grass the rest of the year.

I need to do a lot more composting and get it more active to break down in time for spring.

This year I was also trying not starting things in trays and modules, instead just see what I can get sowing direct. Not going to do that again.

I may look to increase the perennial veg selection - they've done fine once their roots get down. I'll look at more things still edible while/after flowering and things that don't fade in the heat of summer or cold of winter (anyone know of tropical edibles from the Antarctic?)

I'm going to seriously consider building some water gutter watering systems - especially if I'm going to grow the spuds in containers again.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

I'm surprised how well my ornamental garden has done with giving it only one good session with the sprinkler. We have a high water level on silty soil so that helped. We've used the sprinkler a few times on the veg beds, and anything in pots in the greenhouse are on trays which can be filled up as and when needed. I think underwatering is better because plants put roots lower down and also they tend to have a better flavour.

[Jungle Jane]

It’s been a good year for melons & cucumbers with all the sun,my plum shaped tomatoes in the ground have had BER for the first time,I noticed that although I’m watering them everyday,the perennial shrubs near to them are probably sucking all the water to them,so I’m watering the tomatoes & the shrubs next to them now,although all my round tomatoes are fine I don’t understand it but it’s depressing throwing all these tomatoes away. I’ve got 35 tomato plants about seven are BER ones. Runner beans aren’t doing as well this year,ants are having an amazing year out there I think my garden is one big ant hill.

[muck lover]

QUOTE‘I have a Pith Helmet, may sound silly but the wide brim casts a large shadow and they're designed to be put into water to soak up and then as the water evaporates it keeps the head cool’

I hereby renounce all and any claims written actual or implied that I am the most eccentric grape.
Honestly? A pith helmet??
Please please post a photo.

[veggiechicken]

I've had BER on the Black Icicle and Pertseviddny Toms - both "plum" shaped - never had a problem with them before. Next year, I'll grow them in the shadier GH and hope that that stops them drying out so quickly.

[Jonny.D]

Remembered to water the tomatoes before last nights downpour and only found one split one this morning

[veggiechicken]

QUOTE‘I have a Pith Helmet, may sound silly but the wide brim casts a large shadow and they're designed to be put into water to soak up and then as the water evaporates it keeps the head cool’

I hereby renounce all and any claims written actual or implied that I am the most eccentric grape.
Honestly? A pith helmet??
Please please post a photo.

I have a Pith helmet too - its part of my beekeeping outfit with a veil draped over the top. Don't keep bees now so its been put away somewhere safe!

[muck lover]

I have a Pith helmet too - its part of my beekeeping outfit with a veil draped over the top. Don't keep bees now so its been put away somewhere safe!

Gosh it’s hard to remember what normal is anymore ... I love that you are so passionate about your growing. Me too. The young Muck Lovers worry about their street credibility when their friends visit on a gardening day.

[Bluenowhere]

That I need a irrigation system for polytunnel. Working away at short notice with work is not conducive to keeping everything well looked after and cropping.

Also more water storage on allotment (two IBC’s acquired already), while we have dunk tanks filled from the mains on our site they are far too small and fill too slowly with the current low water pressures to support multiple people needing to water at the same time in the post work/post dinner watering windows. Wasn’t so much of an issue last year but this year it is taking literally hours to get anything watered.

[Bren In Pots]

I've realized I need more water butts and to not plant leftover crops in containers/buckets they need watering far to often.