There are two sizeable pumpkins in the greenhouse now. We haven't bothered pollinating the other small pumpkins which are forming - there are also five or six pumpkins growing in the garden. Had we realised that the pumpkins in the greenhouse need hand pollinating and got usy earlier, and assuming all the pumpkins grow to a reasonable size, we would need a third freezer just to accommodate all the pumpkins! As it is, I think we're going to have quite a lot.

We have started picking tomatoes, too. So far only the cherry and small tomatoes in the greenhouse. The plum tomatoes aren't ready and nor are the tomatoes in the garden. We are, however, beginning to get a few more courgettes and the runner beans are doing quite nicely (though not nicely enough for The Builder who loves runner beans and wishes we had lots and lots more!). We have now picked and pulled all the broad beans, and all but two rows of peas which won't be ready for another week or so. Almost all the onions are up (must get around to stringing the last lot!) and we are digging up the Arran Victory potatoes. They have been mostly slug/wireworm damaged. When time permits, I'll sort them out, par boil them and bung them in the freezer (once the wedding food has come out!).

We are fighting lots of caterpillars for the brassicas. They're running amok on the sprouts and caulis - not so much on the red cabbage, for some reason. WE have given in and acquired a caterpillar spray (alleged to be suitable for organic gardening, which we mostly but don't exclusively do). Next year we'll put butterfly proof netting over them.

I've made a start on clearing out the flower beds. Will get back to that next week - though the green bin is now full to the brim and won't be emptied until next Tuesday. It's been quite successful this summer. Lots of colour. I'm going to start hunting for some black/purple sweet pea, cornflower and sunflower seeds for next year. I've got some hollyhock seedlings ready to plant as soon as the beds are ready