When lockdown started my daughter needed something to do so she decided to do some planters and pots, both flowers and veg.

For a first time she has done really well. 8ft sunflowers, some beans, sweet peas,chillies, tomatoes.

However whilst they have all done well, just like your observation they have been slow to develop. The chillies are only just losing their flowers, the tomatoes have grown, but aren't turning red. Despite them being difficult to grow she even threw some sweetcorn in a pot, and 3 of them have produced cobs which is a good outcome, but I can't see them getting to ripe stage.

My dad is a keen gardener and has had the same, even his greenhouse grown tomatoes haven't cropped well, his runner beans very poor, onions OK.

Whilst it was hot in April and May we have put it down to quite a poor June, July and August, Our local weather reporter said we have only had about 65% of normal sun level and more rain than is usual. Not good for plant growing and ripening.

We (or at least our son!) have already started picking and eating chillies from the greenhouse (in sunny Hampshire).

Looking a heavy crop, a very good size (and heat) but have been slow to turn red - though really still plenty hot enough whilst still green.

Watered most days, and fed with tomato feed once a week or so.

We grew a new (to us) variety of chilli this year - Tokyo Hot. Planted in grow-bag in unheated greenhouse.

It's been very prolific and early ripening. The chillies are 3"-4" in length and much fatter than the usual skinny hot chillies we've grown in other years (indeed had planted some of these again this year, but their crop is much less impressive)

Will certainly plant Tokyo Hot again next year.

Edited by Theophilus on 05/09/2020 at 16:51