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immediate allotment neighbours were there and a small impromptu conference took place on my plot to discuss the weighty topic of potatoes.I'm going to plant lots of potatoes — a handful of first earlies called 'Riviera' (one I've not tried before) and a good

regularly and carefully. I even pick the courgettes when they're really quite small if I know I can't get to the plot for a while, so they don't turn into whoppers.But there always seems to be one that escapes my eagle eye, and I end up with an out

cabbage white butterfly. These are easily confused with the smaller, bright green (and far less attractive) caterpillars of the small cabbage butterfly. I have those too.It's been a rotten year for butterflies, except the cabbage whites, which seem to have

days. And my apple trees, which I'm very fond of since they fruited so abundantly, will need new stakes.My plot is on the side of a small hill and benefits from gentle summer breezes that blow down the valley - lovely for keeping cool in August

things that don't need regular picking. So this year I'm saying 'no' to courgettes and 'yes' to butternut squashes.I'm planning a couple of beds of onions which always seem to do rather well on my plot, as well as a small bed of shallots. I've had great

't get caught out by cold winds and chilly nights. Although they're quite small, they'll grow like mad once planted, and will need plenty of room. I usually only put a couple of plants in a 1.2m by 3m bed - any more than that and they start getting out

of his broad beans made it home - he told me how much he likes popping the pods and nibbling away at them while they're small and sweet.I'm definitely a Harvester. I like come away from the plot with buckets, baskets and bags of produce, although I

of the treasured crops of the allotmenteer and vegetable gardener.Potatoes are generally grown from seed potatoes, which are small versions of the potatoes you'll harvest. I grow a few varieties each of first early, second early and maincrop potatoes. First early

What a magnificent year it's been for slugs. The slug population on my plot is reaching epidemic proportions, with many at least the size of small elephants - well 10cm or more in length anyway.I'm so disheartened by their relentless devouring of my

the last few years in a terracotta pot in my sunny back garden, but now it needs a bit more room. I don't think there's enough space for the fig to be permanently planted in the ground, as my garden is small — fig trees get huge if left to their own devices