'Stopping' the plants should have been done months ago for outdoor tomatoes.

Really, down here on the South coast our Summer has been so hot and dry that plants such as lavender have been deleriously happy and belted out their smell in the afternoon sun - enough to make me dizzy walking past a row of the plants.

Today has been torrential rain after high winds, but not at all cold - just the sort of weather to spoil all unprotected crops.

Anne