Allotment Garden Diary

Passing the Baton

Passing on growing knowledge across the generations to my grandson, 60 years after watching my own grandfather growing.

Slow Progress

My back is a little better, but it’s far from right. Regardless, I’m managing to get something done in the garden, although everything is taking longer than normal.

Bad Back, Raised Beds, Polytunnel Producing

New raised bed, potatoes in the polytunnel with leeks, cucumber and lettuce. Moaning about my bad back and food price worries.

April Update

Quick progress report. Beans, tomatoes, potatoes and leeks. Surprising germination of very old tomato seeds.

Pot Growing Brassicas, Recycling, Mice Q&A

Answering questions on pot growing brassicas, reusing a water butt and a tip on protecting seeds from mice.

Broad Beans, Feeding & Extra Protein

Sowing and feeding the broad beans, feeding trees, preparing and feeding the large border in the polytunnel.

Fire Aftermath, Potatoes & Shallots

After the drama of last night, it was a relief to see the wildfire was out this morning, although the land is blackened

Fire, Again

Potatoes Starting in Pots, Leeks and Sowing

Trying for very early potatoes, re-sowing some seeds that didn't germinate well, surprise with leek seeds and horticultural lighting

Seeds Growing, Raised Beds

Tough week and the seeds sown not germinating too well. Scaffold boards arrive to build new raised growing beds.

Satellite Monitoring: A Game-Changer For Sugarcane Farming

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a vital farming crop cultivated in over a hundred countries. Satellite monitoring is increasing yields

Pot Washing and Seed Sowing Starts

Washing the seed trays and pots ready for this season's sowing. Sowing the first seeds of the year in the potting shed.

Crop Rotation, Internet Advice

The logic behind a four-course crop rotation plan and why internet gardening information is becoming swamped by rubbish.

Strawberries, Choosing & Planting Up Hanging Baskets

Choosing and buying some new strawberry plants. Planting them into hanging baskets for growing in the polytunnel.

Shopping Seed Potatoes, The Season Starts

For me, the season starts when I get and set out my seed potatoes to chit. Where's the best place to buy the seed potatoes.

New Year Thoughts & Past Influences

Some brief thoughts on the past year and the new. Gardeners who have most influenced how I live, grow and garden.

Greenhouse Hit Again, Sheep Troubles

Between more damaging winds attacking the greenhouse and sheep getting into the vegetable plot, not the easiest of weeks I've had.

Scary Storm Darragh

This weekend Storm Darragh hit the UK with a red warning for the coast of Wales. We had some damage, but didn't suffer too badly.

To Spray or Not to Spray

Different methods of clearing the weeds from a new allotment plot in response to a question from a newsletter reader