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challenge for the compost 'steward' will be to sort out the compost bins at the allotment (we have 3 at home and plan for another 3 on the plot).  We use one to store brown materials which we have gathered up like bags of leaves and some paper,  the other

As seed catalogues drop through my letterbox as predictably as falling autumn leaves, I face a dilemma. Each one is a veritable candy store, packed with sweets and treats to savour. I know what I like, and which varieties have performed well for me

Brambles are the unsung heroes of the fruit garden.A couple of weeks ago I was spring cleaning my store cupboard when I found a stray jar of blackberry jam trapped behind the mountain of marmalade. The pleasure I got when we opened it for breakfast

go through this behaviour in autumn, and only the fertilised queens (females) survive through winter. In the 'solitary' species, the bees develop in their mainly subterranean nests, and although the grubs may finish feeding on the stored stocks

the weather forecast to see what's in store for later in the week, but with Wimbledon in full swing surely we can expect rain!But if rain doesn't arrive it really is done to the gardener to make up for the shortfall. A friend of mine took on an allotment

overfed garden spiders, Araneus diadematus, are sitting in stately plumpness in the centres.Several of the webs already have dead wasps stored in them, all spun around with silk. I am always slightly amazed that spiders are able to subdue such large

, leading to flooding. If every building had a green roof - be it an office block or garden bin store - much of this water would be absorbed before it even hit the ground.My shed has a tiny, steep roof, so we needed to make sure any soil that was added

off in summer.
Chives, which refuse to grow in my shady garden; I miss them in potato salads.
Borlotti beans, for drying and storing in jars, then adding to winter stews. Butternut squash and several varieties of pumpkin, for hearty autumn soups

time to swell. This same pathogen attacks leeks, chives, and sometimes onions. The undersides of my garlic foliage became speckled with yellow patches that burst into orange rust pustules, resulting in a poor crop that simply wouldn't store through

sodden and the best thing I can do is stay well away. If I walk about on borders - which is what I should be doing during spring - then the ground will become compacted and I will be storing up troubles for later in the season. I could use