Watermelons have begun growing successfully in England following a summer of relentless heat, leaving gardeners amazed. The fruit, usually associated with much warmer countries, was grown on an allotment near Bristol after repeated heatwaves created unusually favourable conditions.
Traditional crops struggle in the heat
Emma, 47, who manages two allotments with her partner, said the scorching weather had proved disastrous for many traditional British crops. Peas, potatoes and beetroot all struggled, while keeping the plots watered became "exhausting and relentless".
However, the rising temperatures also produced some unexpected results. Her tomatoes ripened several weeks earlier than normal, while her sweet potatoes were the largest she had managed to grow in five years.
Unexpected harvest
Most surprisingly, Emma successfully harvested watermelons. She first experimented with the fruit last year but said this summer's crop had performed even better. She said: "I thought I got lucky last year because of the weather. It was such a wonderful thing to have our own watermelons."
Emma has also grown cantaloupes for the first time, suggesting increasingly hot summers could change the types of fruit and vegetables commonly found on allotments across the country. She said the success of warmer-weather crops may influence what she chooses to plant in the future, adding: "It might put me off growing some of the more traditional things."
Drought conditions persist
The discovery comes after the UK experienced repeated heatwaves and exceptionally dry conditions, leaving many growers battling scorched plants and empty water butts. Experts have warned that the recent rain will not be enough to immediately reverse widespread drought conditions, with weeks of sustained rainfall needed for water supplies to recover.
