Brilliant successes

After such a desperately bad year, looking on the bright side I have some major successes.

My parsnips are clean, unfanged and about 50 cm long and about 10 cm across at the top

My leek, thanks to liberal applications of pasture fertilizer are 5 or 6 cm diameter and still growing

The sweetcorn that were in the polytunnel were superb. The ones outside will be ready to harvest later this month and look to be a bumper crop

Beetroots (regular Boltardy plus Chiogga and Golden) are the best I've ever grown

Celeriacs are swelling nicely

The two courgette plants are cropping like wild things

After a desperately slow start the runner beans and Cobra climbers are keeping friends, family and neighbours fed.

All the above is some slight compensation for blighted spuds and tomatoes, drowned brassicas, empty broadbean pods, total absence of apples and plums, menagerie-ridden celery and poor showing from various types of peas

Forgot to add, onions (at least those without white rot), shallots and garlic were fine too