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overnight those buds have burst into the prettiest lemon-coloured blooms. I've left them for the moment as I don't need that bed until I put my beans in, which aren't yet big enough to survive the attentions of slugs. After last year's rain there seem

them swiftly to their new home, firming the soil around the roots with my boot as I backfill the hole. I always water the roots thoroughly afterwards, although sometimes when it's raining I'm not sure it's necessary.

and I think half of them blew away. The second sowing was drowned in steady, unremitting rain and probably rotted. Still, the few that did grow came up well. Thank goodness you only need a couple to go with Christmas dinner!But what about red cabbage

.There's something really inspiring about setting yourself up with seed trays, pots, compost and a big box of seeds indoors, as the rain lashes against the window pane.I like to sow seed of a few plants indoors. Tender crops, such as courgettes and butternut squashes

What a lovely spring to be growing things. The weather has been pretty near perfect — lots of sunshine and some lovely soft, steady rain to get it all germinating and growing well. Perhaps we've had a bit too much wind, and the temperatures at night

What an odd summer we're having. I'm behind after not daring to sow a thing in April as I knew I wouldn't be able to keep them watered enough in those scorching temperatures. Then May hit us with lots of rain and wind so all the slugs and weeds I

. But this year I've had a few that simply haven't developed properly, a couple that had gone mouldy (has to be all that rain) and the rest are okay but nothing to write home about. I can only think that it's the weather. Ron's had the same problems too which

. But this summer's rain has revived it and on Apple Day last weekend I plucked the first apples from my battered little 'Fiesta' and beautiful they are too. Next weekend I'm going to plant it out finally. I feel this little tree has earned its place on the plot

towards the shallots and garlic, only growing a few onions which we've used pretty quickly. This year, having realised - finally - that I find shallots a bit of a faff, I grew more onions than ever. I dried them diligently on the patio, dodging the rain

pigeons.Over autumn they developed hearts and throughout the winter months they've endured rain, winds and last weekend's hail and snow. I've been harvesting them selectively, trying to save them for special roast dinners with friends as they're so good