Remember when seasons used to be very distinct? Winter cold snaps kept the slug population under control; April showers came right on cue to water in your newly planted seedlings and the midsummer heat wave was there to help your crops put on a spurt.
Both 2015 and 2016 have been bonkers with warm dry springs and wet, cooler summers. The perennials have done well in these circumstances and our spring-sown sweet peas have romped away; but it’s true to say that the late sown half-hardy annuals have struggled a little to get going because of the lack of heat.
We’ve mitigated some of the effects by using the greenhouse and polytunnel and waited to plant out until the temperatures are better. Big temperature differences put plants under stress and there are certainly more pests and diseases after a mild winter. There’s never a dull moment in flower farming. You have to keep vigilant and flexible to weather conditions and its effects on your plants. We’re learning every day.
We’d be interested to know how your flower gardens are growing season by season.