Am I the only one who thinks this summer is shaping up to be another unremarkable one? some people keep commenting on the 'good' summer we're having but here it's just been a couple of good weeks at the end of June and a few odd good days here & there, but generally it's been cloudy, July has been very wet, although not as wet as the previous 2 years & the temperature struggles to get above 21 celsius . Outlook looks no better either. Drives me mad whenever i see the weather forecast as the south eastern corner of the uk seems to be keeping the best of the summer to it's self
I've been into exotics for around 4 years & since then I've not had a decent summer-only freezing winters

Unfortunately it's been another SE/rest of the UK split David, yet again.

I love summer, but I always prepare myself for a rubbish summer, so when a decent one does come along I am happy.

There isn't much you can do apart from move location though.

Just doesn't seem fair though does it?

Alternatively, just embrace the climate you have and grow things that will do well in your area.

I have learned not to grow anything up here that needs a long, hot, dry summer as it will just get smaller and smaller.

At the same time laugh at those who have the misfortune to live in the SE. It certainly is not a place I would choose to live in

No complaints here

Good advice from Adam,



I do Adam, come the winter...snow. In the north, apart from last year, we normally have a mild winter while the rest of the country needs snow ploughs to bale them out.

But then they get really good hot summers..Take DB's garden, that would never work here living under clouds most of the time.

I'll complain though Ade, next to none on the sun and heat scale here and no rain either! As far as temperatures go it's been warm enough to have the hose out every day but so cloudy there's no chance of a tan

The plants I have will certainly grow in some form, and degree of pace but this summer and last 3 have been annoying not for the garden, but because since the start of July and in many previous summer, even earlier than that, it's been impossible to go out without either getting soaked, or not being able to wear a tee-shirt because it's too cool.

Since start of July, I haven't worn a t-shirt more than 3 times when going out. It's been mostly wet/and or cool.

The alarm bells certainly ring because it's obviously the same pattern as we've had for three summers now, and this really concerns me about the coming winter but whatever that's 4-5 months away.

What it does disprove though is that El Nino/La Nina have any real effect on the UK weather.

2007-08 we had La Nina which = a bad summer for most.
2008-09 we had La Nina which = a bad summer for most
2009-10 we have El Nino which = a deteriorating picture for half of the country.

The things in common in all those year are a good start to the summer, but rapidly deteriorating.

and winter...

You are just in the bottom left corner of the SE unfortunately Adrian

Sorry mate

I live about 20-25miles west of Adrian & Nathan,weather has been warm enough,but no rain.


Everybody keeps on about this south-east - rest of the country divide,what do you want us southerners to do? - use nuclear demolition charges to remove us from the rest of the country or maybe we should have 2 forums,one for the south-eastern corner & another for the rest of the country.

I'm sorry I live in the soft south,but that is where I was born,nowt to stop you lot from moving south,but you'll find a whole new list of problems to deal with.




metalhammer.

Yes that would help, just cut it off south of Wirral then I'll be the new south-west coast

I was thinking like along the M4 corridor.Then we can erect a 50' tall fence to keep you jealous lot out .



I would give pretty much anything for a couple of days of rain,say 40-50mm over 48hrs.




metalhammer.

A couple of days of rain, and nearly 3 weeks of the sodding stuff is a different kettle of fish . I would have loved a couple of days of heavy rain, but the fact it this July has seen some seriously low levels of sunshine, maybe as little as 70 hours this month.

The average here for July is around 200 hours.. so yep I'll have to check the record books.

Move north then

Or change your style of gardening to something that fits your new contemporary climate. That is what I have had to do.

Adam,have to feed myself.

I'll have things better sorted again next year,I have a generator & pumps & oscillating sprinkler I used to use on the allotment about 15 years or so back,but of late we've generally had enough rain to keep things going,this year has bucked the trend.


Why would I want to move north?.I wonder how you grow plants in a climate where you get no daylight for about 3 months of the year .




metalhammer.