Water and water and water again

  The weather continues to be hot. There has been a little rain but nothing of any note. So the main work in the garden has been to water. It has been too hot to do much else.
   Water melons, cucamelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, haricot vert, wind fall apples, "local" peaches, aubergines, cabbage, potatoes and even a few small carrots have all been dug, pulled, cut, picked or picked up over the last week. The major crop to harvest has been the Desiree potatoes. While digging them up I have added yet more of my sweat to the soil!! A good crop though.
   The weight of grapes on the vine caused part of it to fall down so repairs were in order. Minor damage done to the grapes. The grapes are swelling nicely despite the lack of rain 

Ripening grapes

Winter leeks

Chou Milan (Savoy type)

and are now showing signs of ripening. 
   Another disaster in the garden has been the celeriac. Voles have been burrowing under the plants and eating them. One does not notice that they have been attacked until the leaves go limp!
   There are plenty more tomatoes ripening and I am hopeful that I will get a lot more before they give up completely. 
   Buttercup squash has been a disappointment despite watering the plants. One plant had lots of squash on it but they all just shrivelled up!
   On the animal front no issue with the sheep or meat chickens. The hens have for whatever reason taken it upon themselves to stop laying. I am only getting up to three eggs a day instead of six or seven. I have not yet been able to tell if they are laying elsewhere. Maybe it is just the weather.
    As I write this it has rained a little but it was just a little and really not enough. Forecast is for cooler days and nights but no rain. I fear for my turnip, carrot and turnip/swede cross seedlings.