I spent a few of the Winter months by myself (Lady M was away in Oz, Thailand, Singapore, etc), and I was extremely happy that the weather was kind to me. Not one single day was I forced to stay indoors.
We had no snow, hardly any sub -0 C frost, very little rain, and nothing that one could really complain about. I think I lit the fire after lunch just twice, but generally I didn't bother until after 4 or 5 pm. On my daily walks, I don't think I ever felt really cold. Indoors, the house stayed quite warm.
I did have an electric blanket, and a Winter duvet on my bed, but it was hardly needed.
Throughout the whole Winter I've not once lit, 'George', our wood fired kitchen cooker; a real sign of the mildness of the season.
With The Ice Saints less than a month away, I'm reasonably confident that the better weather is with us to stay.
I'm holding back from sowing and planting too early this year; I shall wait till May.
Isn't May when you take off the woolie undies?
ReplyDelete'Ne'er cast a clout' and all that??
The maxim actually refers to May FLOWERS; which should be out before the month of May. Hopefully.
DeleteIt's always tempting to plant out too early. We had a couple of light frosts in Lincolnshire earlier this week but hopefully things will warm up now.
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm following a neighbour. Last year his Tomatoes were amazing, and mine failed miserably. I'm hoping that if I follow his timing things will be better.
DeleteI'm just about to write a post on our weather. Rain rain and more rain. We are all sogged out. I planted too early and am now looking at plants shredded by hail.
ReplyDeleteWait till may. Good idea. I shall be doing the same . Im waiting to see what has survived.
It's been quite nice here. We live outdoors again.
DeleteGray days and some rain here all week, I like this weather.
ReplyDeleteWell, I expect it makes a change from burning sunshine!
DeleteI sowed my tomato seeds a few days ago, same as last year, when I had my best crop (all greenhouse). I don't believe in starting too early with heated propogators though - plants take too long to adjust to the real world!
ReplyDeleteWe've had a mostly mild and wet winter here in West Wales, but I can feel things warming up now. Do you know the saying that you shouldn't sow direct into the soil until it's warm enough for your bare bum to sit on?
Are you honestly expecting me to 'down trousers' and sit on my Cucumber Patch? Oh, all right then; all in the name of better veg.
DeleteYour post would infact cover here in south east england, I also agree with planting out, not until later in May.
ReplyDeleteOur weather is quite similar to S E England, but maybe a bit colder in Winter, and a bit hotter in Summer.
DeleteWhat do you think of planting and sowing according to the luna cycle? Some gardeners I know follow it.
ReplyDeleteI've never bothered, but I was once told (after a failed crop) that I'd not planted with the correct moon. Who knows!
DeleteWet and windy.
ReplyDeleteWhisky weather.
DeleteCan't complain. Cold. Wearing all the usual extra layers of winter clothes.
ReplyDeleteQuite pleasant here. Shorts-n-T shirts.
DeleteNobody has blamed global warming or Trump yet. Do you think it is going out of fashion?
DeletePerhaps that will mean a mild winter coming up here. At present daytime about 20 centigrade and night time about 10. Fires in the evening.
ReplyDeleteI just entered your nearest town into the weather "thingy" that I use and see your temperatures are very similar.
DeleteYes, very pleasant here for the moment. Up to 23 C for the weekend.
DeleteFor us it has seemed a long winter but clement.
ReplyDeleteWe once knew an old gardener who always insisted that you should never plant anything out until May.
Briony
x
I think he was right. I usually get itchy fingers, and start planting in April; it doesn't give any advantage.
DeleteOur winter wasn't bad but it has seemed a long one - maybe the dark nights have contributed to that. Nevertheless today the sun is shining and it is almost warm - so Spring is on its way.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like that here too; very Springlike.
DeleteIt was not a bad winter here either. We had more rain than snow, but lots of grey days. I have put plants outside because of higher temperatures in the day, but they are under tunnels because nighttime can get much cooler and the weather can turn nasty very quickly.
ReplyDeleteAll our potted (flowering) plants are outdoors again, I think they'll be OK now.
DeleteWe had a cold, snowy winter and a spring of snow and freezing rain. I had to scrape ice of my windshield this morning. At this rate, I won't plant until June 1. I am really looking forward to putting away my winter coat.
ReplyDeleteJune 1st is when we usually open our pool for the summer. It sounds like you had it bad.
DeleteSame as Jane...long, cold and snowy. Lowest temp -39C, wood burner on daily, at least 4 feet of snow and even now it is usually in the minus at night. Even so, my garlic, chives and rhubarb are up about 4 inches. There is hope for spring yet. Barb from Canada
ReplyDeleteI think I might die in -39C. The lowest I've ever known here was around -10C.
DeleteIt is so hard to hold off. Good luck with the planting forbearance.
ReplyDeleteI think my regular failures are down to lack of patience. I shall be strong!
DeleteWe thought we'd escaped Winter,but on arriving back from NZ it gave us a fortnight of "colder than usual" according to the forecasters. What is concerning is funnily enough the lack of weeds. Not only has it been cold,but it was dry here. The result being not just no weeding to do after 4 months away, but rivers and water supplies much lower than they should be
ReplyDeleteI am reasonably weed-free too, but I know that the wretched Oxalis are simply waiting below ground, ready to appear amongst all my veg when it starts to grow.
DeleteWell, I'm in Canada so it started snowing in November and we still had the occasional flurry last week! I left for work some mornings when it was Minus 26C with the windchill (and yes, we pay close attention to the windchill report & how long we have before exposed skin will freeze)! Add in some very strong winds and a lot of snow and you can well imagine why we are longing for Spring. At the moment we are experiencing what our weatherman calls "Sprinter" - today was sunny with a high of 12C and tomorrow it will be 19C - but by the weekend it's to be back down to only 4C and rain, rain and more rain - and it's still down to nearly freezing overnight so I am very envious of all your gardening.
ReplyDeleteThe whole world seems to be experiencing much the same weather at the moment. I've been in shorts and T shirts.
DeleteSeems such a short time ago you were uncovering your pool and skimming out the frogs. How quickly this year passed. It will be another 3 weeks before I see any leaves sprouting.
ReplyDeleteStill only a few trees that are really green here. Our woods are mostly Chestnut and Oak and they are still holding back. My Quince tree is fully out.
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