[Sweetpea C]

My day off and it's raining ...  Still an opportunity to get the housework done and get some brownie points from mr s!

[willp]

While I`m sure that regional variations mean the rain is business as usual for many, it`s been quite dry in my neck of the woods for a while and I`m glad to see it.

I`d already used most of one of my large tanks of stored water keeping seed beds moist, puddling in transplants etc. and I was considering giving my new potatoes a good soaking to encourage them to swell a bit.  Quite a chore as I`ve quite a lot - 5 poles under spuds and probably a quarter of these earlies.

I`d also been holding off for a good soaking before mulching things like toms, beans and squashes - I can get this sorted now

We have no mains water on site and I`m quite pleased to have a bit more water in storage. The weather`s been so unpredictable of late, it wouldn`t be surprised if todays rain was the last for weeks. Whatever happened to 3 hot days and a thunderstorm?.

Set fair for the weekend though!!

Will

[maxie]

10 days and your wishing for rain??? I would rather carry water the mile to my allotment than have to endure the rain we get here in the valleys. we had 2 weeks of summer a while back but the rest has been pretty rubbish so far.

Im with dai on this living in damp cumbria its either been raining,raining or its going to rain 
I can remember saying to the wife i wish it would rain years ago,it started the next day and rained all summer  shes never let me forget it!
A good tip i got off an old fella on the next plot was if its been light rain thats just gone in to the soil a little bit,give thngs a good soaking then with the watering can to get it right in to the roots,it worked for him anyway he was a great gardener.

[ConfusedGardener]

Another vote for sun here!

We've had plenty of rain and well over 1000 ltrs stored. Now we need sun to make things grow! I'd much rather do a bit of watering than have a pathetic harvest. Watering isn't so bad. The water butt pumps can take the strain 

[Grubbypaws]

Put some beer out for the slugs and poor a glass of wine   

[LilacSandy]

Rain=slugs and snails 

And Strawberries, raspberries, peas, carrots ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Beetroot queen]

Rain=slugs and snails 

Come on hubballi a bit of gardeners optimism. You must have something appreciating the rain, my squash seem to like it 

[Beetroot queen]

BQ you are deffinately a 'glass half full' person.

Do you know what, i'm not at all.  i hide on here behind my "its all lovely at my house " routine.  i do try to be happy and fun but i am very anti-social in person bit of a grumpy old woman really 

[seaside]

Rain wise, I have noticed this year that even the South East has taken their share of the Atlantic driven weather. Funnily enough, it has given us down here a slightly better growing climate.
Water/rain is an easily solved problem for allotment holders, we are allowed to irrigate and water with rather copious amounts of planned stored water we pay lots of money for. Lack of sun energy is not easily solved at all, in fact lack of sun is not solvable at all.
All I wish for in growing terms is a reliable average climate that allows me to plan and grow plants that suit . If, as I am beginning to think, I am forced to stop growing outdoor squashes etc due to the changing climate, then that's life.. but I would rather know that's the deal and not waste my time.

[starry]

Well the water butt is nearly full all the plants in the garden are looking refreshed and I expect the plot has grown several inches its forecast to be dry tomorrow ( saturday) so I shall be raising a toast to a dear friend whos funeral I went to today and only seen 1 snail (bonus)

[Beetroot queen]

Hubby said the weeds have enjoyed a drink and then he asked for my kitchen sieve, he wants to sieve the weeds out. What on earth not likely with my sieve. Its metal and more like a collander with larger holes and a long handle.

Cheeky man.