Tips for the hot summer's gardening dilemmas

16:08:20 25th August 2010

This year's weather - the biting cold winter followed by a hot summer - has caused gardening difficulties of all kinds. One expert has offered some guidance on problems with vegetable growth.

Responding to queries from readers, Bunny Guinness of the Telegraph runs through crops that have been problematic following the dry summer.

She notes that runner beans have been late blooming this year and do not grow well if they are exposed to several consecutive nights of weather 16 degrees C and above.

Similarly, globe artichokes did not grow as usual with most gardens experiencing a much smaller crop, probably due to the dry weather conditions, as these vegetables need a moist soil.

Recently, This Is Staffordshire reported on a local woman's efforts to become self-sufficient by growing vegetables in her garden. She remarked that, despite appearances, this can be done by those with busy working lives.

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