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the plot in the mornings at the weekend or on weekday evenings to avoid the hottest part of the day. It's also a good idea to create a shady area on your plot - unfortunately the only shade on my plot is in my shed, but that's often hotter than outside.

the top) and he promptly rolled into a ball. Vic, my neighbouring plotter, grabbed some gloves to move him as he was right in the path, and I took a quick photo with my phone. We put him down by the shed and he scuttled off underneath it. I really hope he

to be seen. My first inclination was to blame local 'youths'. Perhaps the same ones who had, a couple of years ago, started a camp fire next to our shed and ended up burning the whole place down. The netting over the bed was more or less in place, but I could

've noted has been the potatoes we were storing in the shed. It was just too cold for them to survive. They're now waiting for me to put them on the compost heap and are starting to rot and smell absolutely putrid!

elsewhere in the garden. Even raise a new wood stack around them. Anything found indoors, disturbed by the central heating, can be let go into an unheated shed or outhouse where they will settle back down again until temperature and day length switch

Buds are breaking and daffodils are emerging — slowly, but surely, spring is doing its thing. But I won't be shedding the thermals quite yet, as it's still a bit chilly first thing. My thoughts are turning towards planting, and I've been tweaking

makes watering easier for those with hosepipes. Others try to be less wasteful with water, preferring to use watering cans. I tend to fall into the latter camp, although I do have a hose tucked away in the shed in case I get into a panic in spring when

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

(apart from the human, of course). In the south of the UK it's estimated that around 80% of bumblebee nests in gardens are predated by wax moth* - perhaps because nests under sheds, in compost bins and bird boxes are easier to find than those hidden

piles, under sheds and in compost heaps. They breed from early to late-summer, giving birth to up to seven hoglets at a time, and feed on earthworms, beetles, caterpillars, and - happily for gardeners - slugs.I've never seen a hedgehog where I live