By Pete Langford lead singer and founder of the Barron Knights

To wake up and see it raining was a wonderful moment for all gardeners and I was one of the very happy ones.

It’s always been said you can hose plants to keep them well and alive but when rain comes from up above everything grows much more: and I believe that to be true, for sure. I’ve had broad beans and runner beans looking good but during the last couple of days, they have shot up and looking very healthy and saying thank you.

Even my early potatoes are showing so much better than last year’s.

I had a problem in the greenhouse and it was all my fault for not remembering something I was told years ago. My lettuce and leek seeds didn’t germinate and I was too late to realise that the greenhouse was too hot for them during April. So I am starting again and hope all will be good. It’s strange that some seeds did germinate, as I have three different types of tomatoes and they germinated.

In fact, I have my cherry ones out in their troughs and Tigerellas in pots outside, as well as in the greenhouse. My late father-in-law often told me never to plant runner beans out until May 12, because of late frost. Last  year, they were in the ground mid-April and did very well, and this year they look very strong, so let’s hope I get the same results.

I’m sure it’s because we had such a wet winter that the fruit tree blossoms have been stunning and I think I am going to have the best year for plums, apples and pears, especially if I can keep the pigeons away. We have so  many this year, they  drive me crazy.

I need a few bags of soil improver  and heard that a couple of garden centres were open, so off I went, mask ready…However, when I went to the first one, the car park was full, the queue was so long  with social distancing so I turned around and went to a very small centre thinking all will be OK. Again, the queue was so long so again I did a u turn and came home.

I’ve said before: I am pot crazy and already, I have radishes, spring onions, etc., all showing.

It’s going to be along time before we are all back to  normal so please: Stay safe and well..