At last, we’ve had rain, but I’m starting to wonder if I have rain-inducing powers. Like many gardeners, I try to avoid watering the garden, but recently I had to resort to the hose. It was so dry even the nettles were wilting! But of course, after I watered, it rained within 24 hours.

The downpours we’ve had in Hampshire over the last few days have made a serious difference to the plants. The veg plots are suddenly flourishing and some of my miserable-looking lettuce seedlings have finally taken off. Sadly, the weeds have flourished too. It’s as if they’re making up for lost time, putting all their energy into growth so they flower and set seed before it gets dry again. I suppose that’s just one of the reasons why they’re so successful.

We’ve all been out there, desperately trying to dig up weeds and compost them before they’ve done their worst. I have a small invasion of celandine from a nearby hedgerow, which I’m tackling straight away, while the roots are still pliable. There’s also some oxalis, which I’m ever-so-carefully easing out of the soil, as the tiny bulbils can break off, ready to burst into new growth. The result of all my hard efforts to tame these rampant weeds is that I’m behind with my successional veg sowing. Please will someone give me an extra day?

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