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we had far too many, so I've been careful to plant fewer bulbs this time.I'll also pickle a fair few. Paul and I love eating pickled onions so this will be a special treat.Of course, this late decision to rearrange what's growing in each bed has

That's it - summer's over! There was a definite hint of autumn in the air this week - a certain crispness to the morning air, a dampness of dew underfoot and a freshening breeze.Even the plants seem to know that autumn is on its way, the odd leaf on the apple trees is already sh...

To say that I'm delighted with my new cold frame would be the understatement of 2008. You might recall that Paul made it one afternoon last summer from some old windows and a few banister spindles from our old staircase.Okay, it's not that new, but it still seems so to me as I ha...

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

all the seedlings are tiny. I have two large watering cans so I can empty one while the other one fills to save time.I only water plants that look as if they might die - it's the 'tough love' school of vegetable growing! At work, I'm much kinder

Along with the sap rising, the birds cavorting and my enthusiasm surging, the weeds are growing with a vengeance. This February has been a month of weeding on my allotment and - I'm delighted to say - the plot has never looked this good so early

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

This season I simply can't get carrots to germinate! I've sown and sown and sown - yes three times! And still I only get one or two carrots growing each time. It's depressing frankly and I'm thinking about giving up on the whole thing and opting

After a good few years of vegetable growing I would go so far as to say that I know a thing or two about onions and their cultivation. For instance I know that onions are prone to a nasty fungal disease called 'white rot' and I know exactly what