Occasionally someone asks me for advice about getting an allotment and the only advice I have is go often. Don’t be mad keen in summer and ignore it from October until March.

This year I just failed to take my own advice, my attendance and attention at the plot had been spotty from August but after October I just didn’t have the bandwidth for it. I love the plot but f I can’t give it the attention it needs, then I need to consider giving it up or losing half and honestly, I’ve worked too hard to want to do that. So I need to commit.

This is what I started with on New Years Eve

I had made the new bed at the front in August so that was the first place I wanted to weed.

By Saturday, it was looking a lot better

I’ve also weeded the rhubarb. And cleared and topped up one of the beds. There is so much to do, I also cut back the raspberry canes in the bed by the compost bins and weeded the path at the back.

Finally, despite all the neglect, there was produce, cabbages and sprouts.

There is still loads to do but my plan is just to turn up every Sunday morning and do a couple of hours. Next week my mission is to cut down the other raspberry bed (and dig some canes up for plot neighbours), get the rest of the grass up under the plum tree, clear and top up three beds and start weeding around the gooseberry bushes.

As you can see from the photos, it’s going to take some work to get it ready for March!