We returned to carnage

Hi all,

My husband and I are first time gardeners, but it's been thrilling to watch our seeds and small plants grow. We're outside every day making sure our edibles are happy and healthy.

On Friday, we watered in some feed (Miracle Grow), which we've been using since we began planting months ago. Everything was green and healthy. We spent three nights away and returned today to...I don't know what. Everything is shredded. Can anyone tell us what's happened? Also, what can we do now? Images of our sprouting broccoil, runner beans, and courgettes below. Thanks so much.

 

Welcome to the forum, sorry to see the damage.

Could have been the storm we had over the weekend, my plot is a bit battered too.

Theres still time for growth to continue, it should recover, especially if the sun stays out.

 

Try not to panic, it's probably the wind and rain we had yesterday. New leaves will grow and cover up the ones in the pics and all will be fresh and lovely again.

 

Thanks so much for the welcome and the feedback. The weather was wretched in Somerset, but I wasn't sure of conditions in Nottingham. So, this looks like wind and rain damage? Our plants under fleece are fine.

 

That looks similar to my courgette leaves did after a summer hailstorm shredded them. It must have been later in the year because it also shot blasted my ripe outdoor tomatoes, covering them with small white dots. Absolutely heartbreaking the mess it made of everything.

 

Of course, didn't think of hailstones as well as the wind.

Ice, the perfect murder weapon. Stab the victim with an icicle and in a few minutes there is no apparent murder weapon, nothing to leave your prints on.

Should have remembered that from School:DOH:

 

Whilst it looks unsightly - the leaves are probably still working at 80% or 90% of capacity. So you have probably lost less than you think.

 

On Saturday we had very heavy rain, wind and hailstones.
I suspect your garden did too and that's what's damaged those leaves. I know it's worrying but I'm sure the plants will get on just fine.