Sowing and planting season is just beginning to turn into harvesting season, and it's quite exciting. The weather is not so bad as last year, so the slugs haven't been so bad, though still a problem. They've had all the lettuces bar two in a pot which they haven't found yet.

All the hard work digging the beds and burying manure through April and May is starting to pay off: plants are looking healthier, and the potatoes especially better than last year. The manure holds the water as much as anything, during the drier spells. I've been more conscientious watering though, and also the five days away last week saw quite a lot of rain.

The best thing for seeing off the slugs though was the cold February and good frosts, followed by the hot dry spells in April and May. And possibly the lack of mulch, though that ended up meaning much harder work digging the beds over. I suppose mulching them in autumn, and taking the mulch off in feb for the frosts before digging - and digging quickly before the weeds get a hold again - would be ideal.

Anyway, gooseberries are doing well, the first potatoes have come out, and there are some reddening strawberries since I netted the strawberry beds. I think maybe we didn't get the first ones. The raspberries look well laden.

The cardoon I planted last year is enormous. What do you do with cardoons?

Beans are the weakness this year. Following my new plan of starting everything in the greenhouse, I managed most things but fell behind on the peas and beans - so I've ended up sowing the last outside. I managed the peas though. The first ones out are doing well - those in the garden here better than those on the plot, which have been eaten to a lacework in places, I'm not sure by what. maybe the darn slugs again.