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of them have popped out of the ground and needed pushing back. That always happens with sets, doesn't it? I assume it's birds pecking about on the freshly worked beds, but I've never seen them at it.I've also got turnips, swedes and beets showing

need the bed for my butternut squashes which I've potted on and put outside to harden off before planting them out later on this month.It's sad to see the kale go, but next winter's crop is already underway. This time I'm giving the trendy black kale

One of the greatest pleasures of allotment life is getting to know my neighbours. Ron, Beryl, Vic and Tony are a lovely bunch, although we disagree on quite a few things. Vic doesn't like my raised beds, which he regards as a waste of space and a

is the perfect time to start.It's too late to sow onion seed now, but you may find that friends still have some sets left over (my allotment neighbour gave me some surplus red onion sets - 'Red Baron' I think). I also bought white onions ('Marco' F1) from

in the pond where I work. There is no sign of birds nesting in the blackthorn at the plot, although it's hard to see through the swathes of blossom covering the tree.Activity at the allotments, however, has been regular and sustained. This week all my

and parsnips shot into glorious growth, triumphant at having survived the frosts and the cold. I left them to it, I was busy sowing seeds, getting the potatoes chitted and planted, and preparing the beds. Before I knew it, the leeks and a solitary parsnip were

rotten apple spoils the barrel and all that... I'm planning to lift the maincrops this weekend - I know it's early but I just can't face losing them all. It's going to leave me with a few beds empty earlier in the season than I thought so I'm toying

on the train.Not one to miss an opportunity, I decided this might be a good time to 'share' the management of the whole allotment and make him a co-director. He was thrilled."I don't suppose you want to bother with borlotti beans", I ventured. What followed

We've just been allocated more space on the allotment, so we now have a full sized plot. As well as planting many more spuds - which will keep the 'old man' happy - we can also plant the cutting garden my daughter always wanted. Despite

the last quarter and the new moon.Plant leafy crops in period one, fruit crops in period two, root crops and perennials in period three, and take a break in period four (do housework, hoeing, pruning, making raised beds. Don't plant anything unless you