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I've had some cracking crops this year. Some are tried and tested varieties that I know are good and reliable, while some vegetable varieties are completely new to me.I've grown quite a few potatoes, my favourite variety, ‘Charlotte’, has performed exceptionally well, coming out ...

Where does the old season end and the new one begin? For allotmenteers it can feel like something of a continuum - these days you can buy excellent plug plants of winter lettuce and oriental greens that will take you right through winter, if you haven't got round to planting more...

with you through this blog but, after two years, my allotment diary is drawing to a close. We've seen through a couple of seasons together and thank you for being so supportive, enthusiastic and friendly. Although I may not be writing about it anymore

The plot is pretty much reaching its peak around now, and that always strikes me as a good time to take stock. I can sit back on the step of the shed and soak up the successes of the summer. But I can also reflect on what didn't go so well, and analyse what went wrong.Top failure...

I was pleased with this year's Christmas harvest – much of our Christmas dinner was allotment produce. King Edward potatoes from the garage were roasted, Charlotte new potatoes from store were steamed. Greens took the form of braised leeks and

I always worry about the allotment when I go on holiday. Will it all dry out or get a thorough soaking? Luckily the plot was well watered when I slipped away for a wet and windy week in Cornwall.I may not have appreciated the weather very much

.I was blissfully unaware of wasps' nests till one summer at the allotment, when I got stung on my bottom (oh the indignity of it all!). On my next visit to the plot I was stung again and on the following visit I received two further stings. It was only then that I

It's this time of year when the allotments become a frenzy of activity. Everyone is digging, composting and manuring like mad. My neighbours Mr and Mrs Ron wait until Easter, then till and plant their three plots within a week. The rest of us just

when it comes to composing on a plate. Grated, sliced or chopped – preparing veg in different ways also makes a difference, but I digress.We all want colour in our gardens, so what about colour in our veg plots and allotments? Flowers play their part

There’s something wonderfully irrational about clearing snow in order to dig up vegetables. One of our Christmas rituals is to leave the wrapping paper behind and take a walk to the allotment on Christmas day to harvest some parsnips. I don’t know