Ya England is feeling the global warming alright... they just recovered from the coldest winter in 300 years.

The above may be true but people who have lived there for seventy years say the SUMMERS are MUCH warmer than they used to be.

It sounds like you're looking for things that you can pick up in English garden centers as seedlings at the start of July, plant in large pots, and have something to eat by early to mid August.

Greens are a good bet since they can be harvested young. Swiss chard and kale are pretty heat-resistant.

Herbs are always good to have for the kitchen. Try parsley, thyme, sweet marjoram, basil, rosemary -- the usual suspects.

Tomato plants take a while to bear. You may have more luck with sweet peppers, which bear fairly quickly in warm weather and can be picked young.

You could also try sowing fast-growing root vegetables such as beets, radishes, and turnips. Leaves can be eaten as greens as well.

One problem is that, at least here in the U.S., garden centers generally sell out of vegetable plants by early June. So you may be better off getting your mother to pick up some plants and pot them up before your arrival. (If they sit in flats, they'll be root-bound by the time you arrive and won't grow well.)

People have been growing palms in southwestern england for centuries. I wouldn't count on climate change allowing you to grow hot-weather crops in england on any particular time frame.

I would recommend more study of climate change science.

nygardener has some good suggestions.

As for global warming, it sure stirs up the pot. I don't know about England, but in India, the snowfed rivers have been predicted to dry up completely in a few decades due to disappearance of the snowpack. Alpine glacier disappearance is also occuring here in Canada. I remind people not to focus on the weather in just one country (we just had a cold winter in Ohio!!! etc) and conclude it's all fake science. There's a reason for that word 'global'.

Also, if global warming were to strengthen, Western Europe will likely experience colder winters due to the collapse of the Gulf Stream.

Now, I will admit that determining the cause of the warming is a different story altogether.

I can't imagine anything, other that cactus, that could survive in a pot with no water for 2 months.

For the short term, you might look into herbaceous herbs that are commonly grown around there. That way you won't necessarily have to wait for them to fruit/flower/mature to reap some benefit from them during your short visit.

Think (and say) "Climate Change"...for those who swear that humans are not effecting the ozone layer, love to hear other humans say: "We had the coldest winter in 300 years" and they respond with..."I thought you said there was 'global warming?'"

As for your trip to England...visit local organic farms near your Mother's house. Buy their produce. Learn some new gardening methods. Tell the folks there how wonderful America is. Most of all don't try (once again) to prove to Mums how efficient, wonderful and resourceful you are. She already knows all that. She loves you. Enjoy

In the warmer months I've always had good luck with bush beans and eight ball zucchini maturing quickly.

Hello gdnh I hope you enjoy your stay in London but don't be fooled into thinking that just because the summers are warmer than they used to be they are what you would call hot. I suggest you google up some weather stats for where you are going and see the kind of temps to expect. Also be aware that since we have a temperate maritime climate the weather, while generally avoiding extremes, can be extremely variable and unpredictable. You might need both sun cream and a raincoat in July and August, shorts and a sweater. At the moment we are having the warmest April for many years but it's only in the high 60s - low 70s. So not hot compared to much of the US. On the plus side, when it IS warm, the countryside is still lush and green and there are pretty much no mosquitos or other nasty insects, except in Scotland where they have ghastly midges.

As for things which you can grow in 2 months I am afraid there is not much. Our growing season is long but slow. Tomatoes are quite hard to grow successfully outdoors because of low temps and blight. In containers and grow bags in a sheltered spot you might have more success but it may be hard to find plants in mid Summer. You will not be able to grow pepper, egg plant, melons, cucumbers, okra etc outside without protection. I can't think of anything you could grow from seed in 2 months except maybe radishes if you sow them on your first day.

Regarding the 'palms' in some coastal areas. Most of these are either Trachycarpus fortuneii, a hardy palm from China or misnamed Cordyline australis which are not true palms. Our climate has definitely got warmer over recent years and some places you may see young Canary Island Date Palms, Phoenix canariensis although many were lost last winter.

There is no way you can grow a herbaceous border in 2 month, I'm afraid. If you are going to your Mum's doesn't she have a garden already? (I'm using garden in the UK sense ie all the space around the house, all of which is kept permanently cultivated.) Your best bet is perhaps buy get a few pots of already growing stuff and maybe try a few radishes. Garden centres within London tend to be pricey but the DIY stores usually have garden sections, not great but reasonable prices. You could try Homebase or B & Q. Columbia Road Flower Market is not bad and many small grocery shops have a few plants for sale.

And do take the opportunity to try and visit some gardens while you are here. Near London you could visit Kew, Hampton Court, Chelsea Physic Garden and the various parks.

I hope you have a good time despite the circumstances of your visit.

Since (obviously) you have internet access, I suggest getting in touch by email with a few garden centers and/or nurseries near your mother's home, and arrange to buy certain veg. seedlings they carry, but later than they usually sell. Considering the unusual request (U.S. visitor wants to buy and grow local veggies) they might do more for you than if you just show up anonymously.
It has been hotter than usual in the UK this past week or so, but by midsummer, who knows? Global warming seems to involve extremes of weather.
Please report back! When you return. We'd love to know how it worked out.

Carol

I don't want to keep pouring cold water on your enthusiasm but there is really very little you can grow in 8 weeks in the UK Summer, other than radishes and cut and come again leaf salads. Things just don't grow that fast in our temperatures. We frequently get cold patches when things will just sit in the garden and not move at all. There is not much point in spending money on plants which you will not see any return from. By July there will not be many vegetables plants for sale, even if you make a special request, except for brassicas, such as cabbage and sprouts, which are intended for overwintering and harvesting from November to March. It is just too late and the growers won't be producing them. The only tomatoes available will be large potted plants already in flower and pretty pricey. Runner and green beans and courgettes should have been planted out in May to get a crop by July.

Like I said, our gardening season is long but slow. It is much more gentle and gradual than the Continental climates of much of the US.

Although you clearly are desperate to be growing things I would still recommend using as much time as you can visiting gardens. Another one you'd probably like is Wisley which has demonstration vegetable gardens as well as every other kind of plant you can imagine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wisley