Perfect time to clear your plot!

If your plot needs clearing and digging, you may have been telling yourself "Oh, there's nothing I can do till autumn". But that's NOT TRUE! In a normal year, the heavy rain we had at the beginning of the week would have vanished. But because the subsoil is still soaked from the winter, the topsoil is lovely and moist RIGHT NOW. The surface may look dry, but less than an inch below that surface there's moist dark soil which you will find surprisingly easy to get a fork into.

So instead of waiting for autumn's short, cold days, make the most of the pleasant summer weather and get out there with tools. If you don't like the heat, then an early morning trip, or an hour or two in the pleasant evening temperatures, is a bliss and a joy. There is no need to water any plants you've already got growing (unless they are very newly planted) so you can concentrate your energy on the bits that badly need attention. All the weeds you fork out can be composted (whatever the books say, it all rots down and you need that humus), and in no time at all you'll have ground ready to sow lettuce, spinach, beetroot, late carrots or even pop in a few cauliflower or broccoli plants. Instead of waiting till next year to enjoy the fruit of your labours, you can be eating your own veg this autumn!