We’re renting a house now as we transition to our new-build forever house (a saga in and of itself). Added to the glacial pace of winter growth, the wrench away from our garden playground is significant.

We are fortunate that our rental property has a large traditional garden and lawns and even a small established veg patch, albeit in the least sunny position it could be. I’ve planted broad beans, broccoli, carrots and beetroot, as well as a few our favorite herbs. I’m also making one last attempt to grow avocados, this time in pots.

But the most significant difference is that it rains here, regularly, which was one of the key motivators for our move south.