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expect your site is just the same. Yes, it's bean planting time and everyone is a-bustle on the site building all the wigwams, tunnels and trestles ready to support the massive growth of French and runner beans.Many people favour wigwams – I do

given plants by my neighbours, which are planted wherever there's a spare bit of earth.But I do try to stick to the general plan, to ensure the nutrient levels of the soil are maintained evenly across the plot, and pests and diseases do not build up

in March. Not this time though! I'm determined to forge ahead this winter and have planned a couple of projects to get my teeth into, including building another compost heap and painting the shed. Not only have I convinced myself that these projects

, it's worth doing well' and most of the time I do agree with him, but on the plot we tend to need whatever it is that he's building somewhat urgently and so we pile the pressure on to cut a few corners and finish the job quickly.On the whole he bears

the plot. We're now planning to plant some spuds and build a compost bin this weekend.

into the ground and standing only about 30-45cm (12-18in) tall. This gives the tree a chance to build up its own strength as it flexes in the wind but keeps those roots safe and secure. Perhaps the trees won't then grow as ramrod-straight as they would with a

and left it alone. Now the university want to make a geophysical survey of the site to establish the orientation and existence of any walls and buildings. This involves gridding the allotment into squares and then walking over it with a resistance monitor

stony - lots of chunks, lumps and even the odd boulder of beautiful golden Bath stone; so much that I could build a little rockery in a corner of the plot!The beauty of raised beds is that they don't really take too much work to prepare - no double