French Beans sown

French Beans and Squash update

The French Beans didn't do very well - on Gardeners' World they suggested this was due to the lack of sun in the early summer. I have had one batch of beans, which were nice.

One squash died due to the buffeting by wind and rain. The others are ok and at least one has flowered. I really need to clear the ground around the plants.

Updates

In the last couple of days we've had a respite from the heavy rain which seems to have been falling since April. The hosepipe ban has now been lifted in view of the amount of rain we've had.

Heavy rain is forecast for tonight.

A couple of the plants in the first batch of spuds to be planted (on the left above) are flowering. On last week's Gardeners' World, Monty Don said you only need to water spuds while they're in flower.

Tomatoes and courgettes.

French beans

Squash (one of which has been damaged in the wind)

French Beans planted out

These are from the seeds I sowed on 18 May.

Seed failures

None of the Phlox or Aster seeds I sowed on 17 April germinated. This may have been because the compost got sodden as a result of the compost bags being left in the garden. I tried to cover the open bag up, but the large amounts of rain leaked in. I have been trying to dry off some of the compost, and today I sowed some more Phlox and Aster. Also, none of the marigold seed came up, so I sowed some more of those a few days ago.

The French bean plants have been growing well, but I've been reluctant to plant them out because the nights have been cold. As a result I'm a little concerned that the plants have gone a bit beyond their best, so I sowed some more seed today. Next year I should sow the French beans a little later, around the 1st of May.

French bean seed sown

I sowed some French Bean seed today.

First French Beans

Bean and gone

I noticed that there are 3 holes in the compost in the pot where I sowed the French beans. Something must have eaten them. Should have geminated them indoors.

French beans planted out

I didn't harden the beans off, hope they'll be ok.

French Beans sown

I decided not to grow runner beans again as last year's were tough and inedible. I'm trying French beans this year.