Dear diary....

Keeping a diary is a useful way of recording what works and what doesn't, crop-wise. It's also a handy reference, as the years go by, to things like the first and last frosts in your part of the world.

While I had potatoes in the ground in mild conditions in early February last year, there were sporadic frosty spells throughout March, with Jack last visiting my plot on April 20 - despite a spell beforehand when temperatures in the day hit 20C.

I had outdoor crops growing away by then, along with a log-jam of plants in the greenhouse which needed to go outside, so I could give the tomatoes and peppers a bit more elbow room.

You remember your successes. You dine out on them. What tends to get forgotten amid the excitement at a glut of something which did well are the things which went pear-shaped.

Looking back at last year's scribbled records, I tried at least half a dozen plantings of peas  - most of which sank without a trace. Carrots, parsinps..? Let's not go there.

Reading last year's entries, I'm doing a Vicky Pollard when it comes to whether to chance a few spuds this weekend, as the temperatures are forecast to lift a couple of degrees, but the wind's set to stay in the east.  Yeah but no but yeah but no but yeah but no but.