I drill 3 or 4 large holes around my pots approx 1"dia with spade drill, then fit rubber bungs for normal drainage, heavy rain I remove the bungs they don't get water logged, weather changes to dry replace bungs for normal drainage, works for me. I also use a number of 7foot tomato houses, help them along with shelter have no problems with cold either zip em up at night. Haven't lost anything yet. Inexpensive too. Enjoy the channel hope weather improves for us all 👍
This year I've grown exclusively dwarf and semi-dwarf tomatoes, thank goodness, and think I'll try dwarf peppers next year; dwarf tomatoes eliminate so many problems (or at least make them manageable), whereas I'm struggling with my (lovely, healthy, vigorous) peppers ...
We've also drilled some drainage holes in the sides of the pots towards the bottom Foliage can also create an umbrella effect so some pots need to be watered as they're surprisingly dry, even with all this rain
Not a bad idea to drain of your pots on the holed hard board only thing is if you get a heavy rain fall and the hard board gets drenched it could cave in. Anyway it's all looking good Iven. All the very best Tim.😊
For winter, we are bound to get more rain - seems to be the pattern these days, so it might be worth investing in some pot feet for the plants like your raspberries so they don't rot during what no doubt will be another wet winter.
I've managed to save my plants with kitchen roll underneath the pot. It's been soaking all the excess water up. I've also been bringing them in at night. It's a pain I know, but it's been working a treat. I hope this helps you and anyone else struggling.
My beautiful tomatoes are suffering they seem to have slowed down I think tomorrow I'm going to try squeeze them into my mini greenhouse till the weather gets better 🫤 Hope your plants survive. Yes my washing bowl spring onions are doing great. 😊
I've always wondered why you don't put crocks (broken earthenware shards) at the bottom of your pots! Usually gardeners always do this to prevent drainage holes becoming blocked. Maybe you don't have any because you always use plastic pots. 😞. And, for plants that need extra drainage, pots are put on feet.
It’s certainly been a dreadful Spring , June has been drier here in Cornwall , but last week we had 40 mph wind that flattened my potatoes, they seem to be perking up again now, in fact it’s been drier for a few days , I’ve lost some plug plants I’d bought through getting too wet , fingers crossed for July ❤️
That was exactly what my cucumbers looked like when they wilted last week. Looks like we might at least have a couple of warmer dry days at the beginning of this week. We can only hope things will start being more settled soon.
Sorry about your plant casualties Ivan, its so annoying when you go to all the trouble. I'm fed up of the bloody weather, my plants are slow growing because of it, hope we get some good weather soon aye.
You're right as always Ivan - what a p;33y orrible spring it's been! I really feel for fellow gardeners in such adverse conditions. I too have in previous years killed cukes with 'kindness' (overwatering), so now my pots include special measures, both in the greenhouse and outside: a generous layer of stones in the base of each pot, and a fair bit of potting grit mixed into the compost. The roots seem to need air and water in careful measure or they tell us all about it with yellow faces! 😭
I have SUCH wet ground outside my flat that I've already got some rigid wire mesh panels, with bricks to support them, to stand my pots on next winter - so I got them out and put all my summer containers on them. Broad beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, sweet peas, dahlias ... the tomatoes are, fortunately, all dwarf or semi-dwarf so most of them only had a day or two outside before being brought back in. My squash plants are going to HAVE to go out soon due to my increasingly living in a jungle. My raised bed is draining well, despite its situation, and everything in it looks fairly happy, the rhubarb especially. The strawverries are literally sitting there, looking at me resentfully, hard and green, and wondering why it's called 'flaming June' ...
Maybe try some wire type fencing lifted of the ground by resting on bricks with the pots sitting on the wire , this season has been very challenging for us yesterday afternoon we had 10 minutes of hailstones thrown down on us Wirral area the hailstones hadn’t even melted by early evening. It’s really getting on my wick now.
Thanks Ivan, it's been terrible this spring and the last two years for container plants but at the moment I've not got any of mine on the ground as some of them are in my little portable greenhouse and several are on two racks with mesh shelves which I bought from Amazon two years ago and they still look like new. The make is OYPLA, I can't remember how much they cost but I do know that they weren't expensive which was good as they are really good quality. Have a great and warmer week. Take care and all the best. Stevie
Hi Ivan, I’ve also noticed on one of my autumn raspberry fruit cairn plants that the leaves are starting to turn yellow and after doing a bit of research I think it’s been caused by too much rain. I’ve checked the weather and it looks like it should be improving towards the beginning of next weekend fingers crossed because like yourself I’ve no green house and it’s heartbreaking after all the work and effort getting the fruit,vegetables and plants starting to grow only to be destroyed by the wet season we’ve been having 😞
There is polystyrene waste in loads of items. Polystyrene makes great lightweight crocks BUT also great feet to raise pots off the ground. Your bed base won't last long before it rots.
I can feel your pain. I grow most of my stuff in the ground so no problems with waterlogging but all the cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes are suffering. I am sure it is the temeratures we are getting here in Norfolk. It is getting below 10C every night! We'll get the summer sooner or later. Bring back global warming ;)!
Considering that raspberries grow in the wilds and winds of Scotland and the high countryside, it shows how soggy and cold the year has been so far. Roll on....! Keep at it. Quack, Bounce.
Same here in the flat part of Yorkshire. My solution is to make duckboards from old roofing slats which hold my pots and containers off the ground and it seems to work but even that can't cope with the volume of water.
Why don't you cover the top of the pots with some plastic, or above when you know you have heavy rain ?, this will stop the water issue and also give some more heat into the soil. Not sure this is the answer but it may help - thanks for the update
what a shame but once again your full of great ideas. sadly i couldn't do what you said due to burying my cucumber inground, in a desprite attempt I dug mine up and put it in a pot with dry compost a few days ago. Don't think it worked, but maybe I killed it more due to pulling up the roots. We live and learn I guess :)
update: I went out to cut the wilting leaves of the cucumber like you showed, but I think it's doing better than I'm giving it credit for. when I cut he leaves off the sap was still flowing to those leaves, the parts I cut had sap bulbing on the ends. now this plant has been in a dry pot for a few days and the newer leaves seem decent so maybe theres still hope.
That peg board is no good for outdoor use, you need to raise the containers up off the ground by putting feet under them, that way any excess water in the containers can drain away more freely.
My cucumbers and peppers were struggling but I repotted them into fabric pots rather than plastic and they’re flourishing! I’m wondering now if it was the rain that was killing them and now that the water is easily coming away from the fabric pots they’re less water logged! Thanks for another great video!
I lost my potted cucumbers too Ivan, first year it's happened. I quickly got some seedlings back in and they have all germinated. Hopefully this time I will have better luck. I wonder if you could grow your cucumbers in those balcony pots and support them as they trail downwards by making some kind of trellis. Just a thought that came to me. Fingers crossed, you won't need to worry anyway come july, let's hope for more sun 😊 🌞
I feel your pain, I’m taking your advise and going to re-plant some seeds again, 3rd time lucky😮 Fingers crossed for your plants that are in hospital. Cherry
I realised that some of my older plants in pots were no longer draining properly - holes blocked. As it's quite difficult for me to lift now & poke the underneath holes clear, I have started drilling 3 holes, front & both sides towards the base ( gravel layer ) that I can easily reach to poke clear if need be.
It's been crazy weather here too. All my plants are in pots. I have pots I put up on bricks so they drain. The bugs however are worse than the weather.
Hi Ivan, 1 pot of my strawberries was swimming in water, the only remedy was to get rid of compost and repot them. I wish I had the room for a polytunnel so I could move all my pots indoors when we have these terrible spells of rain. I hope you're right with better weather coming, the plants are crying out for it as am I 😂 Love watching your vlogs, they encouraged me to plant more into containers.
Hi Michelle yes sometimes that is the only answer so will see how they do for a week but if we get another week of rain then it may be my way too Thank you for your support
Awfull here in Lancashire, my two cucumber plants are almost dead due to the rain,plus its windy really bad as we're high.up.keep moving my maples out of the wind.fetched courgette plant in over a week ago,but its now got quite a few flowers coming on it. Been a awful summer definitely agree must be the Same every where x
Beware hardboard perishes very quickly if it gets wet
Yes but just a temp thing to see how they go
Thank you Christopher
I drill 3 or 4 large holes around my pots approx 1"dia with spade drill, then fit rubber bungs for normal drainage, heavy rain I remove the bungs they don't get water logged, weather changes to dry replace bungs for normal drainage, works for me. I also use a number of 7foot tomato houses, help them along with shelter have no problems with cold either zip em up at night. Haven't lost anything yet. Inexpensive too. Enjoy the channel hope weather improves for us all 👍
Looks like you have it covered great job Alister
Thank you
This year I've grown exclusively dwarf and semi-dwarf tomatoes, thank goodness, and think I'll try dwarf peppers next year; dwarf tomatoes eliminate so many problems (or at least make them manageable), whereas I'm struggling with my (lovely, healthy, vigorous) peppers ...
Ivan, I found my salad bowls infested with greenfly today! 😱 Get well soon Ivan's plants.🙏
Yes its either the weather or creatures
Just carry on and make the best of the year
Thank you Jen
We've also drilled some drainage holes in the sides of the pots towards the bottom
Foliage can also create an umbrella effect so some pots need to be watered as they're surprisingly dry, even with all this rain
Good idea Thank you Paula
Not a bad idea to drain of your pots on the holed hard board only thing is if you get a heavy rain fall and the hard board gets drenched it could cave in. Anyway it's all looking good Iven. All the very best Tim.😊
Will keep my eye on it Thank you Tim
Hi Ivan, I’ve got 3 cucumbers in a trough and they now look terrible because of the rain, I lost my only melon too. We love your channel.
Shame about the plants but Thank you for your support much appreciated Anne
For winter, we are bound to get more rain - seems to be the pattern these days, so it might be worth investing in some pot feet for the plants like your raspberries so they don't rot during what no doubt will be another wet winter.
Sounds like a plan Thank you Sharon
I've managed to save my plants with kitchen roll underneath the pot. It's been soaking all the excess water up. I've also been bringing them in at night. It's a pain I know, but it's been working a treat. I hope this helps you and anyone else struggling.
Good idea Thank you
It is still a very good container garden.
Thank you much appreciated
My beautiful tomatoes are suffering they seem to have slowed down I think tomorrow I'm going to try squeeze them into my mini greenhouse till the weather gets better 🫤
Hope your plants survive.
Yes my washing bowl spring onions are doing great. 😊
Yes this year has been a pain so far but i hope they pull through Thank you Deb
Sweet cherry pie lvan good look 🍒😁
Thank you
I've always wondered why you don't put crocks (broken earthenware shards) at the bottom of your pots! Usually gardeners always do this to prevent drainage holes becoming blocked. Maybe you don't have any because you always use plastic pots. 😞. And, for plants that need extra drainage, pots are put on feet.
Thank you for the feedback
It’s certainly been a dreadful Spring , June has been drier here in Cornwall , but last week we had 40 mph wind that flattened my potatoes, they seem to be perking up again now, in fact it’s been drier for a few days , I’ve lost some plug plants I’d bought through getting too wet , fingers crossed for July ❤️
Shame about the loss but July is going to be great
Thank you Lynda
That was exactly what my cucumbers looked like when they wilted last week. Looks like we might at least have a couple of warmer dry days at the beginning of this week. We can only hope things will start being more settled soon.
Best of luck and Thank you Nicki
Sorry about your plant casualties Ivan, its so annoying when you go to all the trouble. I'm fed up of the bloody weather, my plants are slow growing because of it, hope we get some good weather soon aye.
Me too Thank you Carol
Really love your channel 👍
Thank you Lewis much appreciated
You're right as always Ivan - what a p;33y orrible spring it's been! I really feel for fellow gardeners in such adverse conditions. I too have in previous years killed cukes with 'kindness' (overwatering), so now my pots include special measures, both in the greenhouse and outside: a generous layer of stones in the base of each pot, and a fair bit of potting grit mixed into the compost. The roots seem to need air and water in careful measure or they tell us all about it with yellow faces! 😭
Better days are coming Anthony but until then lets hope everything makes it
Thank you
I have SUCH wet ground outside my flat that I've already got some rigid wire mesh panels, with bricks to support them, to stand my pots on next winter - so I got them out and put all my summer containers on them. Broad beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, sweet peas, dahlias ... the tomatoes are, fortunately, all dwarf or semi-dwarf so most of them only had a day or two outside before being brought back in. My squash plants are going to HAVE to go out soon due to my increasingly living in a jungle. My raised bed is draining well, despite its situation, and everything in it looks fairly happy, the rhubarb especially. The strawverries are literally sitting there, looking at me resentfully, hard and green, and wondering why it's called 'flaming June' ...
Yes me too
I feel for all gardeners this year but better days are coming
Thank you
Maybe try some wire type fencing lifted of the ground by resting on bricks with the pots sitting on the wire , this season has been very challenging for us yesterday afternoon we had 10 minutes of hailstones thrown down on us Wirral area the hailstones hadn’t even melted by early evening. It’s really getting on my wick now.
True a bad start but better days are on the way Thank you Catherine
Thanks Ivan, it's been terrible this spring and the last two years for container plants but at the moment I've not got any of mine on the ground as some of them are in my little portable greenhouse and several are on two racks with mesh shelves which I bought from Amazon two years ago and they still look like new. The make is OYPLA, I can't remember how much they cost but I do know that they weren't expensive which was good as they are really good quality. Have a great and warmer week. Take care and all the best. Stevie
Thanks for the info Stevie much appreciated
Hi Ivan, I’ve also noticed on one of my autumn raspberry fruit cairn plants that the leaves are starting to turn yellow and after doing a bit of research I think it’s been caused by too much rain. I’ve checked the weather and it looks like it should be improving towards the beginning of next weekend fingers crossed because like yourself I’ve no green house and it’s heartbreaking after all the work and effort getting the fruit,vegetables and plants starting to grow only to be destroyed by the wet season we’ve been having 😞
Yes Sarah it is on the way so fingers crossed the plants make it Thank you
I've had the same problem. Your idea is great.
Thank you much appreciated
There is polystyrene waste in loads of items. Polystyrene makes great lightweight crocks BUT also great feet to raise pots off the ground. Your bed base won't last long before it rots.
Thanks Ivan just a temp measure to see how they go
I can feel your pain. I grow most of my stuff in the ground so no problems with waterlogging but all the cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes are suffering. I am sure it is the temeratures we are getting here in Norfolk. It is getting below 10C every night! We'll get the summer sooner or later. Bring back global warming ;)!
Yes true the rain and then cold spells are a cucumbers enemy
Thank you
Hi, I just thought it might be worth buying pot feet for your pots. It will definitely help with the drainage.
Thanks for the tip Angela
thanks Ivan
Thank you too
So sorry you are having problems with the pots being water logged, fingers crossed being raised up will do the trick. Thanks for sharing.
On we go though
Thank you Sheila
Hi Ivan. Hope your plant hospital will work for those plants.
Time will tell
Thank you Connie
Considering that raspberries grow in the wilds and winds of Scotland and the high countryside, it shows how soggy and cold the year has been so far. Roll on....! Keep at it. Quack, Bounce.
Very true and will do Thank you Margaret
Hi Ivan I was wondering whether to make chicken wire covers for each plant and co er with plastic. The wet is killing everything. Sigh 😂
Worth a try
Thank you Susie
Same here in the flat part of Yorkshire. My solution is to make duckboards from old roofing slats which hold my pots and containers off the ground and it seems to work but even that can't cope with the volume of water.
Lets hope it ends soon
Thank you
I stand my pots on rubber feet to allow them to drain constantly 😊
Good plan Thank you Susan
Why don't you cover the top of the pots with some plastic, or above when you know you have heavy rain ?, this will stop the water issue and also give some more heat into the soil. Not sure this is the answer but it may help - thanks for the update
Trouble round here is they say rain but there is none then they say sun and it rains lol
Worth covering though Thank you Nico
A suggestion that might help at least to some extent is to use olant pot feet to lift your pots up a little and assist with drainage
Worth a go Thank you Jack
Muy buen video
Thank you
what a shame but once again your full of great ideas. sadly i couldn't do what you said due to burying my cucumber inground, in a desprite attempt I dug mine up and put it in a pot with dry compost a few days ago. Don't think it worked, but maybe I killed it more due to pulling up the roots. We live and learn I guess :)
update: I went out to cut the wilting leaves of the cucumber like you showed, but I think it's doing better than I'm giving it credit for. when I cut he leaves off the sap was still flowing to those leaves, the parts I cut had sap bulbing on the ends. now this plant has been in a dry pot for a few days and the newer leaves seem decent so maybe theres still hope.
Fingers crossed for you
Great news Thank you
Great tips
Thank you much appreciated
Looking good , could I ask what compost you are using please
Hi yes it is Westland Thank you
I hope you asked tge other half before taking the bed 😂
Haha Yes i did
Lol good man 😊
That peg board is no good for outdoor use, you need to raise the containers up off the ground by putting feet under them, that way any excess water in the containers can drain away more freely.
Its just temp to see how the plants go
Thank you Brian
My cucumbers and peppers were struggling but I repotted them into fabric pots rather than plastic and they’re flourishing!
I’m wondering now if it was the rain that was killing them and now that the water is easily coming away from the fabric pots they’re less water logged!
Thanks for another great video!
Good call Thank you Kirstie
I lost my potted cucumbers too Ivan, first year it's happened. I quickly got some seedlings back in and they have all germinated. Hopefully this time I will have better luck. I wonder if you could grow your cucumbers in those balcony pots and support them as they trail downwards by making some kind of trellis. Just a thought that came to me. Fingers crossed, you won't need to worry anyway come july, let's hope for more sun 😊 🌞
I think the roots would be too much for those pots but mini cucumbers may work
Thank you
I feel your pain, I’m taking your advise and going to re-plant some seeds again, 3rd time lucky😮 Fingers crossed for your plants that are in hospital. Cherry
Thank you Cherry good luck to you too
I realised that some of my older plants in pots were no longer draining properly - holes blocked. As it's quite difficult for me to lift now & poke the underneath holes clear, I have started drilling 3 holes, front & both sides towards the base ( gravel layer ) that I can easily reach to poke clear if need be.
Good idea Thank you
It's been crazy weather here too. All my plants are in pots. I have pots I put up on bricks so they drain. The bugs however are worse than the weather.
It is a constant battle but we will get there good luck this season Cindy
My tomatoes are suffering at the moment. Its been awful weather
Summer is almost here then they should really take off
Thank you Edwina
I use off cuts of 2”x2” to raise my pots off the ground..
Good stuff Thank you
Hi Ivan, 1 pot of my strawberries was swimming in water, the only remedy was to get rid of compost and repot them. I wish I had the room for a polytunnel so I could move all my pots indoors when we have these terrible spells of rain. I hope you're right with better weather coming, the plants are crying out for it as am I 😂 Love watching your vlogs, they encouraged me to plant more into containers.
Hi Michelle yes sometimes that is the only answer so will see how they do for a week but if we get another week of rain then it may be my way too
Thank you for your support
I had a poly tunnel last year and everything got fungal infections from the plastic but others may do ok with them.
Awfull here in Lancashire, my two cucumber plants are almost dead due to the rain,plus its windy really bad as we're high.up.keep moving my maples out of the wind.fetched courgette plant in over a week ago,but its now got quite a few flowers coming on it. Been a awful summer definitely agree must be the Same every where x
I’ve been wrapping my cucumbers in light fleece which has helped. Plenty of fruit coming but not many leaves 😂
It seems to be but Summer is almost here Thank you Tracy
Hope they pull through Thank you Susie