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Gardening

Gardening in a heat wave: the effect on plants

(10 Posts)
valdali Sun 24-May-26 19:19:30

I think I'd plant them out anyway, make sure the planting hole is very damp.

On the principle that being a few inches in the soil, the roots are going to keep cooler than anywhere except the deepest shade.

If it's hot AND windy I'd provide some sort of wind/ sunbreak but it's not too windy round here atm.

keepcalmandcavachon Sun 24-May-26 19:04:11

I decided to cut back on the number of pots out in full sun all day and now have more begonias & fushias tucked into shady spots.
My garden is a bit of a faff to water (I need to connect different hose bits to stretch from a very incovenient outside tap) and I had stern words with myself about glamorous thirsty sun lovers, & I don't mean GNers!
Casdon, just make up a crumble mix, your rhubarb should be nicely done by nowgrin

merlotgran Sun 24-May-26 18:49:47

I was watering at 7am in my pyjamas. The garden is so lovely before it becomes really hot around 11.
I was out for lunch today so couldn’t do any potting up or planting out but I’ll get stuck in tomorrow.

Casdon Sun 24-May-26 18:11:42

I water in the morning, and when it’s hot I do my gardening in the morning too. I’ve been planting over the last few days, but only in the ground or my own mixed compost if the plants are in the sun all day. I wouldn’t plant into peat free compost at the moment, because I find the top dries out very quickly, and young plants struggle when it’s very hot.

My rhubarb is looking exhausted already, even though I’m watering it - some plants just don’t like the heat.

MartavTaurus Sun 24-May-26 16:57:47

Water in late evening too because that's when they store up their reserves apparently.

lixy Sun 24-May-26 16:54:19

I’m keeping my young plants ina shady place for a few days while this fierce heat runs through. Fortunately I have an old garden table so they are above most slug/snails I hope.

I have moved all the pots around so that they shade each other too. I think established plants don’t mind hot tops but dislike their roots being overheated.

Who knows what the rest of this Summer will bring weather wise. Be an interesting year if nothing else. Good luck everyone!

BlueBelle Sun 24-May-26 16:51:17

All my veggies have been out 3/4 weeks and loving the warmth

Cherylg Sun 24-May-26 16:43:05

I’m in the same position plants ready to go out. I topped up my planters with fresh compost and decided to just put out geraniums and pelagoniums as they can tolerate heat better. I watered well and will do so each morning while so hot. All the rest will be done when it’s a little cooler.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 24-May-26 16:34:22

Well I’m planting - every day do a bit more. They are all looking fine - mind you I water every morning - the latest advice - to do with snails etc.

So far so good.

Gin Sun 24-May-26 16:31:35

Today it is 29C in the garden. Yesterday I moved all the plants and seedlings out if the greenhouse, they are in trays on the staging we moved out to under the trees. Over the bank holiday I was intending to pot up all my tubs and borders with annuals that I have grown from seed: petunias, stocks, gauras, cosmos and tobacco plants and have at least 100. I feel it is too hot and they will just shrivel up under stress. I keep them well watered but they are all getting big and are blooming. I gather the heat will last until about Thursday. What is the general advice? I have not seen any. What is everyone’s opinion?