Presumably they are after the seeds in the tomatoes. They certainly nibble rosehips to get at the seeds.

Potatoes only go green when they are exposed to light, so the first priority in storage is to exclude light and to keep them out of frost and not too damp. Some people cut off the foliage and then leave the potatoes in the ground for a few days for the skin to harden before lifting them but I must a...

Just for comparison, our local observations just outside Skipton in the Yorkshire Dales: July 1987 mx.temp. 29 degrees, min.temp. 6 dgerees, rainfall 96.5mm July 1997 mx.temp. 27 dgerees, min.temp. 8 degrees, rainfall 87mm July 2007 mx.temp. 21 degrees, min.temp. 7 degrees, rainfall 189mm July 2008 ...

Our early potatoes (Ulster Sceptre and Kestrel) here in the Yorkshire Dales are showing first signs of blight so we have lifted them - no evidence of blight on the tubers. We have also lifted Anya (because we wanted to eat them!). The remaining potatoes Lady Balfour and Sarpo Mira are clean so far. ...

The day started beautifully dry and sunny here, OH, but since lunch time it's been raining lightly and steadily. And it's quite warm, ideal for blight really. We have no sign of blight yet on either potatoes or tomatoes which surprises me. The tomatoes are in the greenhouse but one of the plants is ...

I once heard about a "broad bean pate" which sounded interesting, though I have never made it. That might be a good use for surplus broad beans, Pottyaboutveg. I freeze all our surplus (in generous double portions because it's usually just the two of us at mealtimes). That will take us thr...

I am a bit confused, Rarebredchick. Calabrese is sown and harvested in the same year, so how come you still have a plant from LAST year? If it was true to form it should be flowering this year and then dying, so I am not surprised that it didn't appear edible. So, on the plant which you have left, I...

Hello Granny, I follow the potatoes with green manure every year, usually with ryegrass and winter tares, but last year I grew phacelia and was surprised how well it stood in the winter. I dug the phacelia in before it flowered this spring but two plants 'escaped' and have provided a lovely display ...

After all my griping about the weather, I am pleased to report that we have loads of peas, beetroot, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli/calabrese (best ever! variety Chevalier), carrot, onions, shallots, massive garlic and potatoes (no blight here yet - fingers crossed) and the first small leeks and dwarf ...

Geoff and Colin, another afternoon today podding broad beans and then freezing them! Still as annoyingly slow as ever. And what a lot of waste there is, but at least it always makes beautiful compost! I can't help with the "skinning" of the actual beans, Colin, as I have never done it, we ...

I spent an afternoon today podding peas and broad beans and, as every year, I got frustrated about the slow and messy nature of podding broad beans. Is there an easy way of doing it?

Dwarf/French beans should be ok still and extend your cropping season into October/November. If you start them off on damp kitchen paper in the house and sow them when they start germinating, their progress will be speeded up.

Could it be cabbage root fly? I have lost three cauliflowers to cabbage root fly this year, not other brassicas are affected. If you lift the plant and it's sort of chewed off at soil level, it might be this little pest.l

I also always use recycled jars and haven't ever had one crack. I wonder if you put your empty jars from the cold into a warm/hot oven, Lizzie? I put mine into the cold oven and then turn it on to very low (Gasmark 1) for about an hour or for however long it takes to make the jam.

What a good idea. I made some strawberry jam a fortnight ago and, though it appears set when you first open it, it becomes increasingly runny as the jam goes down in the jar. I did use lemon juice and sugar with pectin but it still didn't set properly, obviously. Next year I shall try the gooseberry...