Our weather 2021

[Richard Watson]

 Today was a overcast summers day, high of 17C - 62F, sunny tomorrow though with a predicted high of 25C - 77F

[S.Simonsen]

We are having a weird summer in subtropical Australia, cool and damp and barely getting above 30 C on the warmest days. Nights are fairly cool as well. This means the cucurbits are off to a very slow start but should come through if February warms up. By comparison last year we hit over 40 C on the first day of spring (Sep 1) and had 6 months until the end of summer with virtually no rain. The milder year this season is lucky since I am growing out a big lot of diverse potato seedlings and they are doing really well (though it still seems to be too hot for seed to set).

[Richard Watson]

Its the same in NZ too, just pleasant temperatures in the low 20's C. Not having to pump water for the garden is not the norm for this time of year.

[spacecase0]

right now it is winter where I am in california
only 4 inches of rain for my winter season so far. (it does not rain here in the summer)
I might not have much of a garden the upcoming summer if this keeps up

[Steve1]

We are having a weird summer in subtropical Australia, cool and damp and barely getting above 30 C on the warmest days. Nights are fairly cool as well. This means the cucurbits are off to a very slow start but should come through if February warms up. By comparison last year we hit over 40 C on the first day of spring (Sep 1) and had 6 months until the end of summer with virtually no rain. The milder year this season is lucky since I am growing out a big lot of diverse potato seedlings and they are doing really well (though it still seems to be too hot for seed to set).

Is it cooling down at night? Mine set pretty easily, but it was a cool summer last year and looks to be again this year... Are you seeing the native bees around?

[S.Simonsen]

Steve1- We do have native banded bees that have pollinated potato previously. The nights cool down into 18-20 C, so not cool by many potato growing region standards. I have started hand pollinating but suspect with the warm nights I might be wasting my limited time.

[Steve1]

Steve1- We do have native banded bees that have pollinated potato previously. The nights cool down into 18-20 C, so not cool by many potato growing region standards. I have started hand pollinating but suspect with the warm nights I might be wasting my limited time.

Thinking about last year, I dont reckon any set early. I have a picture that shows lots at the end of March. Maybe just let them go. The blue banded bees will find them when they are ready.

[Richard Watson]

This rather benign summer has certainly been great for potatoes, lots of bumblebees have insured the flowering and berry set is the best Ive seen for years

[Steph S]

What a lovely sight, the potatoes! 
We've had a very mild winter so far with little snow, but there is some on the way tonight.
It is a huge contrast to last year's 20-yr snow maximum.  And welcome fwiw.
We are probably not short on precipitation overall, since there's been quite a bit of rain, but nothing excessive.  It is always disappointing that the warm days are windy and wet, and very scanty sunshine whether freeze or thaw.  We only seem to clear at night for those temperature inversions!