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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

I was pleased with this year's Christmas harvest – much of our Christmas dinner was allotment produce. King Edward potatoes from the garage were roasted, Charlotte new potatoes from store were steamed. Greens took the form of braised leeks and

next year. So here are my allotment New Year resolutions for 2009:I must grow crops that don't require regular picking as I don't live close enough to the plot to get there more than a couple of times a week. That's just not enough to harvest runner

of new potatoes through the season. I can't remember all the varieties off the top of my head but the list includes: Annabelle, Charlotte, Picasso, Golden Wonder and Red Duke of York. Impressive hey?! We're also growing a long keeper to store over winter

of my maincrop potatoes towards the end of September, dry them off in the garage and then bag them up to store and eat through the winter. We're still eating them now.To ensure a good crop you should 'chit' your potatoes before planting them. This simply

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

in the pond where I work. There is no sign of birds nesting in the blackthorn at the plot, although it's hard to see through the swathes of blossom covering the tree.Activity at the allotments, however, has been regular and sustained. This week all my

is such a good 'doer' - I can't remember ever having a bad crop and I've grown 'Charlotte' for years now. (Spud-heads should check out The British Potato Council.I spent yesterday sitting in the sun, carefully checking each spud before storing them. One