Of all the lessons in gardening, patience is one of the hardest

Leaves still to savour: scattered autumn-sown radicchio Photograph: Allan Jenkins

To cloche or not to cloche in February, maybe even March? The deepening urge to get early flower and vegetable seed in the ground as we close in on the end of the month.

We have often sown under cover on Plot 29. Most likely out of my impatience. But perhaps the longer we have been here the less likely it is.