Heatwave still!

The Meteorological Office defines a heatwave as 'five consecutive days where the temperature is at least 5°C above the average for the time of year'. Well, the maximum daytime temperature has been at least 30°C for rather more than a week (high by our standards) and there is no end in sight. Neither will there be any rain in the forseeable future, which means daily watering. I dug a root of spuds yesterday - the ground was like concrete, and the spuds were not nearly as big as they should be.

The weather has however helped quite a few things - peas for instance, which I started picking this evening. Broad beans are coming to an end, but I have just sowed some winter cabbage seed in my seedbed, so when the beans come out, the cabbages will go in. Likewise, when the potatoes come out, chard will go in, which I am also growing from seed. In the meantime, there are summer cabbages (in truth, it's been so hot that all we have eaten is salads recently!) lettuces - which are all coming on at once despite being planted at different times - runner and French beans, and courgettes. Beetroot and carrots soon.