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-blasted, rain-lashed hill, albeit without any Heathcliff. I’m desperate to keep toasty but I can’t dig anything as the soil is too wet.I’m very lucky – my plot has a lovely, rich soil, well dug and manured by many a plot holder before me. But, like much

At this time of year, gardeners and plot holders take advantage of any dry, sunny weather to improve the soil and get their beds ready for planting. My neighbours on the allotment have been doing just that - everywhere I look there are freshly

view to nesting sometime soon. It would be great to have a little family to keep an eye on while I'm weeding.Although the soil is warming up nicely I'm determined not to sow seeds too early. It's easy to get lulled into a false sense of security

.So this week I'm improving my soil with home-made compost. This seems a good use of my time as I can stop instantly and pack up as soon as a passing shower turns into steady rain (I'm not a wuss really - I get wet enough at work but I get paid for those

for my maincrop spuds.My only complaint is that the potatoes have scab. I've never had a problem with potato scab before, but this year it's affected my precious Charlottes, particularly at one end of the bed. Potatoes thrive in acid soil, and potato scab

to dig the soil, mulch my beds or dig in manure or compost .But now it's warmed up a little I can finally get on with a few jobs. In fact this weather is perfect for moving plants. The combination of moist, warm soil, dormant plants and no wind is ideal

It's this time of year when the allotments become a frenzy of activity. Everyone is digging, composting and manuring like mad. My neighbours Mr and Mrs Ron wait until Easter, then till and plant their three plots within a week. The rest of us just

a few baby vegetables. Baby beets and parsnips are just lovely. Besides, now the soil has warmed up and the evenings have got a bit lighter, my crops could well catch up with those on neighbouring plots.After all the weeding I've been doing recently

-it seeds and pots and the worn-out canes that would split as soon as I poked them into the first inch of soil. And no more ancient Jaffa cakes (sorry about sharing that with you but honesty is my policy).After a good sweep up, my tools are hung up

I've never known rain like it (well, this being the UK, maybe I have). The poor old allotment is saturated, windswept and generally the worse for wear.I'm tidying up and securing all the brassica netting that's blown all over the plot these last few