Lovely meal last night, tonight Steak and ale pie  jersey pots carrots and peas , aplle and raspberry crumble with tiny ice cream 

I think it’s just been superceeded by better varieties. In its day it was outstanding, but you can now find better varieties that taste just as good if you avoid the big commercial varieties like Elsanta which are grown for looks and yield. I don’t know if you have Malwina available over their, but that is an great taste and texture, maybe not as bountiful as others, but top quality fruits.

So the question I was once asked by a farmer who is one of our patients.... why are you planting main's so early when you are going to store them?
I was like you sowing in March.
I now follow our local farmers. Mains go in first weekend of May, my earlys 2nd weekend of April.
Done this about 4 years now and always get very good crops, others on site are moaning coz they have lost a good few due to more than average raInfall. They will not learn!

Spent a good hour trying to get me petrol tiller going today, stripped it down, cleaned etc and it just don't wanna play.

Had similar issue with my owd strimmer.

Gone and bought a 240v tiller, plug in and a way we go, so much easier.
Bought cordless Dewalt strimmer couple of years and not looked back so thought I need something that will do the job without the hassle.

As my plot is directly behind the house I can just plug in to my supply. Job done in 5 mins.

Beautiful summery day since 6am. Peaking at 23C