As our wet winter drags on, slightly lighter evening, snowdrops, crocuses and the green shoots of bulbs, all give us hope that eventually spring will be in the air.

This time at The Secret Acre is also marked by the annual ritual of the chitting potatoes on the windowsill.

Last year, Anya and Désirée both did well for us, and I would have settled for just these again. But Emma can’t resist buying some random first earlies each year too.

This year she came home with some topical, but somewhat controversial in the circumstances I feel, Duke of York seed potatoes. What they would certainly have called a ‘brave choice’ in Yes Minister.

Is she trying to tell me something? Apparently, they have a ‘mealy texture’ but at least I am expecting them to store well… on account of a lack of sweating!