Yes, and I would say a lot depends on your position within the allotments. I have a patch of tomatoes close to some large conifers and about 90% survived the previous night. About 10 metres further away, nothing would have survived. Because I knew that patch was more exposed to the cold, I delayed planting the tomatoes there until this Saturday.

Potatoes will come back. We may get a decent shower tomorrow, but if I were you I would still water them to make sure there is enough moisture in the ground. Also bear in mind that at this time of year temperatures are measured at around hip height, whereas close to the ground it can actually be several degrees warmer.

One of my allotments is on a site with a very slight slope. My plot is at the bottom, where the cold air collects, and members whose plots are further uphill tend to fare much better. The main point is that it is worth understanding these microclimates as an allotment holder and keeping track of them so you can adjust accordingly.

On the whole, this has been one of the worst springs I can remember in the past 10 years. Luckily, my peach and apricot trees remain largely unaffected, as do the cherry trees.

On a separate note, I purchased a couple of these protective nets and I think they are a game changer. They zip around the tree and tie onto the support frame. They should stop not only birds as the cherries ripen, but also SWD flies, which are responsible for maggots in cherries. I am very impressed. The plan is to set up a cherry and morello cherry orchard of around six or seven trees and use these covers to finally harvest close to 100% of the crop for a change. They can also be used to protect pears and plums as well. The ones below are very big though and I would stick with dward root stock which can grow up to 2 - 2.5 meters:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insect-Mesh-Protection-Drawstring-Strawberry/dp/B0GCN7BSTX/ref=sr_1_15?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BEEzJ3pXapbA9C-Qa18UQVL9DpIQ7NVMEOi98NG_lkZ7DIvd20-LA1P3Jxzl2QSQBoFuZTh_GmKqD4SPUxO5nAJEElffxN2IKI9EwHJWGVxOfpIBYmu575Sw83isAoqjiDNz8hqCJQvDSnl_GtjyWajpRx5wn1vB3tzXne5iLUboj2pfn9PK1EY9VbWOXkOLnmRDHykA-rTn8D6v-8XQTFx_mbEJGI3ojBywChGbQSsnb42RXudmNsHX6vnDk9D0B1OORwnkOOHhiqDHOG5VUGRn8BF4A9yGwAf66jItS6E.cR4CZNW7B9kRZTdye8kyt-hAers_fEaKwzxmo2T9-Ic&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fruit+Tree+Netting&qid=1778403131&sr=8-15 

Yes, indeed, my Stevenson's screen where I measure my temperature is standard Met Office height. Your plot sounds massive compared to mine! Mine is about 7m x 6m. Those nets are very expensive, maybe not for what they are but I try and keep my costs to a minimum else might as well go to the farmer's market!

Faiweather,

My plots keep me fit as well as tennis!

I have 4 and a half  plots, each 10m wide by 20m long.

The nets are very cheap. Yesterday, I ordered 10 cherry trees on dwarf rootstock. In 2 - 3  years, they should each produce around 2–3kg of cherries. To net them with small bags costs only about £4.50 each. Cherries are around £20/kg.

Over time, it will pay for itself, not to mention the fact that I love Morello cherries, especially in cakes and pies, which you cannot really buy readily in the UK.

If you need garden inspiration, look no further.

https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/g71329126/chelsea-flower-show-2026-gardens-award-winners/ 

I like No 8, 22 and 25.

Retron might be interested in No 10.

Beast would surely fall for  No 34. 

When it cools down a bit later, I'll do some rearrangements outside the office. 

Anyone else inspired?

Anybody grow carrots or parsnips from seed this year? None of mine, purchased new from Premier Seeds have germinated in over six weeks since sowing at the start of April. I know it's been dry and cold most of Spring but I have been watering them regularly. Beetroots which were sensational last year have been patchy as well. Dodgy seeds from the supplier?

I find Premier Seeds to be very hit and miss. I don't avoid them or anything like that but i have had a few packs of various things that never germinated or never germinated fully; Aubergine and Tithonia were the two that let me down last year.

I do tend to stick with them as a supplier as they offer such good value that i'm willing to take the punt. I was in B&Q a few months back and thought i'd pick up some french beans. I don't recall the seed house (Suttons probably) but they were such an extortionate price that I couldn't see how i'd be any better off compared to simply buying french beans pre-grown from my local supermarket. 

You could try the Adelaide one perhaps? Having had another look No 4 stands out. Rainwater harvesting, to me, with one of those barrels you can find, is a pointless exercise IMO. 

The best ones I saw were in Turkey, where almost every old property had a huge underground cistern to collect rainfall. Planners in this country are oblivious to making this a requirement in new builds. After all, they and we all know water comes from the mains. 

I think you should give it a go and report back to us! I was recommended Optunia Humifosa by this thread last year (apologies, i can't recall who). It deflated like an old balloon from November and looked dead until about a month ago, but it survived the winter under glass in my unheated greenhouse and has started the year well. The plan is to plant it out this year in my rock garden. We certainly didn't get much cold last winter but it was very wet so the jury is out on its long term outdoor prospects. 

I can see the towers to my north today. 50 miles or more away. Over Bath and Oxford. The French can cultivate them too over Brest in Britanny. It's not fair.

Watering beckons later in the gloaming and early tomorrow around sunrise. If I can keep up with this, the garden will continue to look great. 

Friday and the weekend look possible for some rain. I wonder and hope it will. The last rain is a distant memory. 

B&Q are my preferred supplier. I really miss Wilko!

Growing carrots this year in a large container filled with compost, with the top 5 cm using compost I purchased separately. I’ve never had better results.

Beetroot I grew in containers/tubs and transplanted when they were nearly 10 cm tall. They survived only thanks to watering twice a day.

The pickaxe is still the most useful tool on the allotment as Sahara conditions continue.

I also want to take the jeep for a run to get some fuel - but ist does not have air con and it might feel like driving in Senegal! 😬 I shall drive to the Skegness road and visit Mr Bullwinkle's. [Not joking] checking his prices...

https://fuelmap.co.uk/forecourt/7196/ 

Then a visit to The Walled Garden, I think. Sounds like a plan.

https://www.walledgardenbaumber.co.uk/ 

Regrettably no!  It's just a Suzuki - for old time's sake - I used them in West Africa in the 80s. This one I got for beekeeping - took the back seat out and put in a floor so I could move hives off-road. I did once have a Series II Landrover for that - short-wheelbase truck, ex AA.

A shame about that rather potent wind yesterday, a lot got flattened - There really is little that i like about the wind. Hopefully a bit of rain induced turgidity will pick things up, perhaps a good time for a Chelsea Chop?!

Too true - my  rather nice display of foxgloves is now a shambles

Consistency is important in horticulture and it wasn't long ago that we'd be referring to our Almanacs for guidance and planning but increasingly in the past decade the unpredictability of our weather has made this practice somewhat redundant. Now my overriding goal seems to be preparation for hardship and damage limitation.

A shame about your foxgloves DEW, they should be at their best around now.