I think we were overinvested in this rain in southern Hants. Once again, it didn't deliver 😢. 1tbs of rain in a bucket, 3 rumbles of distant thunder, grey sky so no 🌙 moon. Big fat fail.
Met with small-holder friends tonight who brought home the reality of 3mm of rain in 54 days. They've decided to abandon 1/3 of their crop as they cannot afford to irrigate it anymore ( having, ironically, just paid off the loan they needed to help them through the Biblical, 3-months-of-solid-rain this area experienced 3 winters ago. It was 'water world', it smothered all the new crops.).
So, given that we will be away for 2 weeks in a week's time; sadly, tonight, we decided it was 'two chances' time for a good half of the garden. I will carry on spending the hours and £ watering what I will save. And hope the teenager I employ to water them is sufficiently dedicated!
Disappointed, but accept that that's gardening. You need to know when to give up! You never know, the 'promise' of rain may deliver just the once! 10mins of serious rain would've changed the game, but it wasn't to be!