[AlaninCarlisle]

At least, after almost 5 weeks of daily rain my field is no longer a tinder-box

[Growster...]

I've been amazed at your fortitude and resilience Alan, and also everyone else's up there with the same issues!

It's heartbreaking when we get such rotten summers such as we've had so far - the heat was just as bad, and affected my toms and cuces by making them get the hump and stop growing! The garlic just failed miserably...

If it's any use, why not try an experiment I've started this year, which is growing just a few salad crops like lambs lettuce and spring onions in seed trays, for cut and come again salads? There's plenty of time to start some carrots and spinach etc. as well, and at least you'll have something to show for this season.

Summers like this are a big reason why starter-gardeners never get going, which is such a shame, but I know you're made of much sterner stuff than that!

More power to your elbow Young Man!

[Goosegirl]

To me, even though I've been reading so many tales of gardening misery, I feel slightly heartened by the fact that it's not down to something I've done wrong. I'm now just going with the flow and see what happens when things dry out and warm up. Can't help feeling so sorry for some people though. 

[AlaninCarlisle]

Many sowings made in spring were a disaster including cabbage, brocolli, broadbeans and peas. Great results however for runner and French beans, leeks, spuds, greenhouse tomatoes and mangetouts. Like I said earlier, my big worry through June was the risk of a wild-fire in my field which hasn't been grazed since the last pony died 2 years ago. We are a bit too close to a housing estate and the ongoing risk of michievous "accidental" ignition