Enjoying the rain

8 June 2011

We have had some heavy rain showers in among the sunshine over the past few days, which has pleased me as it saves me having to lug about a heavy watering can to water my plants. There’s also nothing nicer than listening to the rain at night when you’re tucked up in bed.

Pumpkins love a good drink and the ornamental pumpkin outside the conservatory is really getting the idea about growing now. Its partner on the other side of the doorway is somewhat behind, having been eaten at an early age by pesky sparrows. I was able to save it though, covering it with a cut off plastic bottle until it was too big to be as appealing to little beaks.

It’s been a useful bottle all round actually: over the past few days I used the inverted neck of the bottle as a funnel on top of my watering can, leaving it not just out in the rain, but also positioning it under a regular drip from the conservatory guttering. I was expecting to save a nominal amount of water, so was surprised to find five litres waiting in the can ready for use on a drier day.

This is the first time I’ve grown ornamental pumpkins and their bush rather than vine habit is fascinating. I’m used to pumpkins that extend across the garden the moment you turn your back, whereas these plants push all new growth up from the centre. The middle of the plant is currently a bundle of fresh new leaves and promising flower buds.