Successional sowings of rocket (arugula) are giving good pickings of tasty young leaves which are great on pizza and in salads. Even dense plantings in a seed tray grow well, although deeper pots allow plants to grow bigger before bolting. These sowings were from seed saved earlier in the year – well worth doing as the viability rate has been very high, and germination has been quick.

The Banana Legs tomatoes looked so good in the sunshine I was reluctant to pick them. When I eventually did they were sweet and delicious. I have bottled some to store into winter, allowing us to enjoy that sunny yellow colour when days are short and cold, probably as a salsa dip with some hot yellow chilli.

Lots of chilli plants are coming on well now, mostly in 3 litre Air-Pot containers and we are looking forward to having chilli jam again. Good old Apache seems to have decent sized pods this year, the first of them are just starting to turn red now. Even more heavily laden are some big Supertramp plants. The pods have gone from green to yellow and they are already pretty hot – delicious in salsa or on pizza sliced very thin and well dispersed. Eventually they will turn red and should develop a slightly sweeter taste.