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It's been very dry lately, so I've had to water my crops on a daily basis. The poor plants need every drop they can get as my allotment has turned into a dustbowl.Despite the dry conditions, my strawberries have been fantastic this year. I've got

 eat any more.I’m rather partial to parsnips, especially when roasted with my Sunday lunch. I usually grow 'Avonresister' as it’s resistant to canker, which can be a real problem in this area (hence the development of this variety specifically for growers

There are always a few jobs that I hate doing at this time of year. One of them is pulling out the overwintered plants that have flowered and set seed. It seems such a shame to remove these plants when they're only doing what nature intended.But I need the space, so I've ripped o...

'll also add compost to the bottom of the trench before planting the potatoes, as they're such greedy, speedy growers.Onions really love growing in firm ground, so ideally, it should have been prepared in the autumn or winter, then left to go really hard

I'm gradually filling up the beds on the allotment. Last week I planted main crop potatoes – a variety called Picasso, which doesn't seem too prone to slugs, and one called Cara, which is cited in catalogues as 'the allotment favourite'. I

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 crop rotation plan I formulated earlier in the season.I'm already flouting my New Year resolution to abstain from growing crops that require regular picking. That would mean no beans, French or otherwise, no courgettes and no fresh peas. I really can

It may have been a lousy summer for growing many crops but the wet weather bodes well for my compost.It's always 'alright' rather than 'wonderful', unlike the stuff I make at work, which is always lovely: friable, richly dark and full of worms, just

It's so hot I'm having to water my vegetable crops up to twice a day at the moment. Everyone on the allotment is desperately trying to keep the plants productive and, more to the point, alive.We're lucky to have taps dotted around the site, which

plenty of young leaves, the courgettes are doubling in size and the potatoes are coming into flower. When potatoes are in flower they need a lot of water, as this is when they're growing tubers. All newly planted crops need regular watering in dry spells