My Climate Change Garden

London is set to scorch over Easter with temperatures being higher than some of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. 25C is expected and the Met Office has promised four days of sunshine.It will be hotter than many places in the Med such as the South of France,Southern Spain andCorfu whilst Barcelona is expected to be 16c.

March was the driest for 50 years and it looks like April might be on the way to being the hottest on record. Normal temperatures for April should be around 14/15c.

All this wonderful sunshine is good news for plants and has brought many into flower very early. Have you noticed the amount of  trees that are already in leaf up to 3 weeks early?

Fig Delight

I took a stroll through St James Park yesterday and was blown away by the beauty of the greeneryeverywhere  – mixed with hundreds of tourists all taking photographs as London puts on its finery ready for the Royal Wedding in a weeks time.

Came across these impressive figs growing across the river which look like they should be located in some warm Mediterranean scene not thriving in the middle of London in April after one of the coldest winters for many years. In fact,  the hardy fig ‘Brown Turkey can survive temperatures as low as -10C and has become a favourite in many gardens. ‘Brunswick’ is also known for it’s tolerance of our cold and damp winters, producing lovely green figs year after year.

I have just planted out a fig tree I had in a large pot for 12 years and it too is looking very comfortable in the delightful weather. Would be wounderful toharvest some figs this year if this glorious weather contiunes through May-September. Anyone had success harvesting figs outdoors?

Here are some useful tips for growing figs and plants to buy:
http://allotmentheaven.blogspot.com/2011/01/fig-ficus.html

http://www.allotment.org.uk/greenhouse/fruit/fig.php