Take wet weather into account

Hi y'all.  Wondered if any of you experienced allotmenteers had any advice for a realtive newcommer on any adjustments one should make to the way the soil is prepared when the climate is as we as it is now. 

For example, should we plant onions up in ridges so they have good drainage?

Unless your plot has real drainage problems, I wouldn't suggest anything drastic unless you want to do things like raised beds.

Adding organic matter improves soil structure so will always be a Good Thing.

Not sure about specific crop matters.

However, bear in mind that we had a very hot and dry June in general, and that despite the last two summers, the long-term trend is predicted to be warm wet winters and hotter drier summers (I think).

I'm a bit worried about all these predictions....... If the long, long, long term predictions are as inaccurate as those short long term predictions for this summer then who knows what sort of climate we are going to face in the future? We were told: "a warmer and sunnier summer ahead" and just look at it. Watering can sales have fallen through the floor!

On the plot it is hard to consider too larger changes for the following year as the weather is so unpredictable. I said this year I'd not even bother attempting out-door tomatoes on the plot next year having lost them to blight 3 years running. But - knowing my luck - next year will be warm and not too wet or humid, an ideal tomato growing summer and I won't have planted any!! (so I might just stick in one or two as a bit of insurance)

So... if we make any changes to account for extra wet or dry or hot I think they need to be just little steps within our normal range of veg growing techniques. What we might find is that we have to change the type of veg we grow.... somethings will be more successful than others...so increasing the successful crops and decreasing the problematic ones is probably still the way to go.

A bit of experimenting is the way to learn what works best and then, the following year, trying to remember what conditions were like when you did what it was that worked well...

I find dry hot summers are easier to adjust growing veg to than soaking, chilly grey ones. It's much easier to add more water more often than it is to compensate for too much of it and not enough sun.

Reduce the number of onions grown and harvest a bit earlier when the sun shines rather than waiting for wet mid July when they are usually ready...??

 What we might find is that we have to change the type of veg we grow....

That would be a bit boring...........all of us growing paddy rice

  Robbo.

Quote from: MikeyandAnnie on July 29, 2009, 21:21

For example, should we plant onions up in ridges so they have good drainage?

Tried that with overwintering onions on a bed that is inclined to be damp after it was recommended on some gardening programme or other.  Half on a ridge, half on the flat.  The ones on the flat did much better.  The ones on the ridge pushed themselves out, didnt swell up as much etc etc.  All on the flat next year for me.

Agreed, I tried this and most of them failed [mine were sets], absolute rubbish method.

I did find though that I got no white rot from onions at all when I grew them in raised beds full of sand - so will be repeating that this winter...

Those toms look lovely and healthy - your soil looks not-too-wet too. 

I wish you a good harvest but keep a careful eye on them!  :blink:

There isn't an emoticon for deep green with envy ...