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I've started picking cherry toms and some of the big toms are starting to ripen. I had to remove some from one of the plants on the south-side of the double row due to blossom end rot. It's the only plant with problems. Looking at the state of it, I'm guessing it can't get enough water up in these hot conditions. The plant of the same variety (Montserrat – very impressive-looking, even when green) on the shady side is doing extremely well and no sign of BER. Will grow more next year, all on the shady side.
I spotted some aphids on the tomato plants a few weeks back, but decided against action other than a bit of squishing, as the plants are full of spiders. Golden orb weavers, now getting much bigger, some other spiders I can't identify that make tangle webs, other spiders so small they look like specks of pollen in the middle of their webs, and hunting spiders. The wasps and hoverflies have dealt with the aphids and the spiders are dealing with Tuta absoluta. Have only had to remove two tomatoes but I've seen quite a few moths caught in webs, so I know they're about. Picking the tomatoes is going to be an interesting proposition, though. The golden orb weavers can get to a fair size...
The sweet corn tassels are dropping pollen everywhere. But the silks aren't ready. Stress perhaps due to the extremely cold nights we’ve had recently, followed by these extremely hot days. Fortunately, the tillers look like they will have male flowers when the females are good to go. Most plants looks like they will have two cobs and some are trying for three. Will I grow Earlibird again? The verdict's out on that one. Will have to see what the tillers do first.
I've pulled up nearly all the French beans. No point wasting water or ground on them. The Delinel are growing OK, just about. Some beans forming. Have a small bed that I might try some Contender in.
The leeks are doing well, especially Chef's White (summer leek). In fact, there are some CW I could pick today if I wanted to. Very glad I grew these and will grow again. Of the three varieties of winter leek, Titus is growing the best (the other two are Below Zero and Stocky).
Have started picking cabbage. Cape Horn from MoreVeg. Very good (better than Hispi in my view – bigger, denser but still very sweet) but can’t buy the seeds from UK now. The broccoli (Green Man) are starting to form heads and the caulis (Candid Charm) look like they're thinking of doing the same.
The melon plants are really struggling. New leaves are looking fairly green, but the weather conditions are against them. Two of the Arava plants have set fruit, the others haven't produced a single female flower between them. The squash plants are coping better, but similarly, male flowers only. The courgette plants are going great guns, all apart from one Soleil.
The pepper plants have picked up and peppers are forming. Oddly, the aubergine plants are very short this year, but flowering well and there's one ready to pick.
The Desiree are flowering, but some of the Charlottes are looking like they're giving up the ghost.
Today, it's 41 ºC in the shade and extremely windy. Terrible conditions for plants. I actually went out to have a look about 1 pm (mad dogs and English women and all that) and there are some small plants that look like they won't survive these conditions. Bizarre to think that not that many days ago, it was down to well below 10 for a few consecutive nights.
Still to sow: Contender, overwintering carrots, turnips and some more kohlrabi. Calçots to buy and plant later in August.
