Weatherwatch: Chinese farmers hope for rain at time of ‘small fullness’

In May, farmers in China look for heavy downpours to fill the rice paddies so that they stay wet throughout summer The Chinese solar term xiaoman, alternatively translated as “small fullness” or “grain buds”, corresponds with the last two weeks of May. In northern China, the name traditionally refers to growing wheat grains; in southern China, to the fullness of rivers with rainwater. Xiaoman weather is generally warm and sultry, and traditional menus feature bitter herbs and cucumber, though...

By David Hambling