Peak Strawberry time

Yesterday I picked about 8 pounds of strawberries. On the whole they are good - well swollen because of the amount of rain that we've had - but a larger than normal proportion have been attacked by mould (not surprising) or, of course, slugs. So I've been making jam and putting a lot in the freezer. By cutting them up and freezing them spread out on a tray, then putting them in bags, they are ideal for use later - not fresh of course but for cooking, where they are a real taste  of summer.
I'm also picking lettuce (my second sowing is now coming up) beetroot (ditto) carrots and small broad beans. We eat them mange tout, rather than podding them, when they're small. 7 or 8 minutes in the pot - delicious! Next week there should also be peas and courgettes. I love this time of year!
I planted some sweetcorn seedlings a couple of weeks ago, but lost about three quarters to something - don't know what. It didn't look like slug damage, so could have been birds or more likely mice.In most cases the plants had not only been nibbled off at the base, but the seeds had been dug up and eaten. Anyway, I bought some more and planted them out, and so far they're OK. I have put mouse traps down and slug pellets and made sure that they are covered by mesh - can't do much more!

At the moment, the plot is just about full. There's a little space for leeks, but I have 10 purple sprouting broccoli to plant out, and there's just no room. So for the time being, they are in 5" pots and will be planted out when the broad beans have finished.

No sun - no strawberries

I have lots of strawberries coming on, but we need more sun to finish ripening them. Last year, I started picking them on 2 June. This morning - 10 days later than last year - I picked my first three. Last year we had 2mm of rain in the whole of June. So far this June we have had more than 100mm. So the strawberries are swelling - and don't the slugs love them! - but not ripening. Hey ho. Gardeners and farmers are never happy with the weather.
I planted some sweetcorn seedlings last week, but they are being dug up by the birds. Note to self : this plot will have to be netted. Otherwise, things are coming on OK. I will be able to pick broad beans and beetroot soon, also carrots and spring onions, and we have had several lettuces, so I have planted more seeds. Runner and French beans are climbing up their poles; courgettes and peas are coming on quite quickly now. Broccoli plants have settled in nicely after being planted out, and onions, shallots and garlic are growing strongly. Leeks are very slow - I shall probably have to buy some plants if they don't hurry up. But everything needs some sun!