Blooming Haddock's.

This Lavatera, which has just started to flower, makes the perfect entrance to Haddock's. I may even plant one on the other side of the gate to make an arch.

Some of the most important advice about vegetable gardening (which I usually ignore), is to eat your crops as soon as they are edible (we ate the above last night).

I don't always follow this advice because I'm usually expecting things to grow bigger and better; what I actually get later-on is either diseased or bug-covered, and I kick myself.

The other advantage of eating those 'just ready' crops is that they leave space which can then be re-planted. 

I like my courgettes to be quite small; about 4 inches maximum, and with 8 plants this is essential. To leave them to get bigger would mean instant glut.

Lady Magnon is always criticising my bean production. She wants a large supply just when our summer guests are here, and it's not always easy to provide. I do my best.

Onions just look after themselves. I've put in a double row this year, and they're yellowish rather than my usual 'Baron' reds. I shall soon be eating some of these as spring onions.

Tomatoes are like weeds here. Just spit a few pips at the ground, and in a few weeks we have a red carpet.

I've also been instructed to grow plenty of salad this year. With this variety we just grab a few leaves every day, and they re-grow; much more practical that the tight headed ones where one is obliged to cut the whole plant (ignore the weeds, please).