[kentishlad]

Hi All,
We are looking to relocate soon from the sunny south and am seeking advice on any differences in what I might be able to grow if we move up to Cumbria sort of level with Carlisle?

I can see from looking around that the growing season is shorter but does it affect what you can grow?
I'm particularly interested in knowing if I'd still be able to grow tomatoes outside and runner beans.

I'd expect to get a greenhouse / poly tunnel and in Kent I grow some aubergines, lots of chilli's, cucumbers and tomatoes within, would this still be possible in the shorter season do you think?

Cheers,
Wayne.

[Goosegirl]

Hi KL. I'm just a bit south-west of you and have had no problems with outside crops like runner beans or toms in the GH. You may find you have to sow a little bit later but then so do we all if the weather is bad down south and better up here. Good luck!

[Christine]

I'm just over the hill from Carlisle in Northumberland. We grow runner beans outdoors (and all sorts of other beans). Depends on the season for outdoor tomatoes.

No problems with the things that you grow in the greenhouse/poly tunnel. I know of a number of poly tunnels full of the things you grow.

Come on up - it's not half as bad as the news would have you believe "oop north"

[kentishlad]

That is good news, thanks for the replies, we shall be up in the coming months having a good look around :-)

Regards,
Wayne.

[Alifink]

You won't go short of water up here

[kentishlad]

We did look at the rainfall charts for Cumbria and found you have a good slice of the rainfall pie :-)

It must help in some ways though, any crops you find that really excel?

[solway cropper]

I live on the Solway coast to the west of Carlisle and have grown just about everything with no problems. Most of my toms and cucumbers are grown in a big greenhouse but I do grow an outside crop because I always sow too many and can't fit them all in under glass. Aubergines have always been a problem for me and unless we get an exceptional summer they can be very hit and miss but peppers thrive. The growing season might be a few weeks shorter but it's not as grim up here as some people seem to think.

[ptarmigan]

I'm in the same kind of area.  A big problem for us is how windy the site is. 

My allotment neighbour moved up from Devon and it's been a bit of a shock for him.  More rain, cooler nights, having to put more protection out for longer.  And less sunshine. 

Having said that he has to water less. 

A polytunnel or something similar makes a huge difference (I'm still saving up for one). 

[kentishlad]

I live on the Solway coast to the west of Carlisle and have grown just about everything with no problems. Most of my toms and cucumbers are grown in a big greenhouse but I do grow an outside crop because I always sow too many and can't fit them all in under glass. Aubergines have always been a problem for me and unless we get an exceptional summer they can be very hit and miss but peppers thrive. The growing season might be a few weeks shorter but it's not as grim up here as some people seem to think.

We struggle with Aubergines in our unheated greenhouse both in the soil and in pot's (6" approx) but a friend of ours uses huge pots and this seems to make a difference. They also have a heated conservatory and get the seeds growing earlier because they are happier in there. We on the other hand have only a fairly coldish house despite getting starting them off in a heated propagator.

I'm in the same kind of area.  A big problem for us is how windy the site is. 
My allotment neighbour moved up from Devon and it's been a bit of a shock for him.  More rain, cooler nights, having to put more protection out for longer.  And less sunshine. 

It's amazing how much the wind affects the health/growth of plants something we have learnt over time. It's incredibly windy here on the peninsular where we live, quite frankly I'm surprised our runner beans survive sometimes with the wind we get! You should see the bracing supports I have running everywhere :-)