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In most years I usually plant some of the more tender veg crops, such as courgette and squash, by late April. If I had done so this year, the plants would be dead by now, as May was so unusually cold. (And I don't even think the chunky bell cloches

up’ one or more of the organisms that can cause damping off.I’m not saying don’t use water butts, but it’s well worth taking care with what plants you use the water on. I use water butt water on more mature plants, and on those in open ground. I

. Wind can scorch leaves as well as sun (and we’ve certainly had plenty of wind in Hampshire). Heavy rain and hail will also damage plants, peppering leaves and flowers with tiny shot marks.To make matters worse, water droplets on foliage can magnify

. The plants are suspended from the roof of my greenhouse and they love the ready supply of rainwater from the nearby water butt. They’re worth their weight in gold as they trap the grim selection of flies that sneak their way in to the greenhouse. The only

the loss of water vapour from the plant itself. But, when plants are bombarded by strong gusts of wind, these pockets of moisture are blown away. This in turn causes further moisture loss from the stomata. A vicious circle…I have been watering plants

and persistent winds.On Monday a full-sized water butt broke free from one of the greenhouses, spilled what water it contained and then right down the hill and ended up by the front door; trees and shrubs have literally had their leaves torn from the stems; less

I couldn't be happier. The sun is shining and it almost feels as if spring is here.  Just last week there was standing water in the bottom few feet of one of my plots; the soil was completely submerged and saturated. Conditions were so wet

Where have all the flowers gone? Why did it have to happen now? Just as I had been lulled in to a false sense of security the heavens opened again. There's been enough rain to fill all of my water butts several times over and the ground is now a

The soil here is rock solid. Fortunately, I planted the last of the garlic last week, before temperatures plummeted. Now, I'd need to use an ice axe, rather than a fork if I wanted to plant anything.I answered the door recently to a courier, who

I watered, it rained within 24 hours.The downpours we've had in Hampshire over the last few days have made a serious difference to the plants. The veg plots are suddenly flourishing and some of my miserable-looking lettuce seedlings have finally