While many look at autumn as a time to clear up and pack away for the season, it’s also time to look ahead and plant, in readiness for next summer’s harvest.
So hold fire on packing away that fork and spade, and think about getting your garlic in the ground. Continue reading “Spotlight on Garlic”
In Hollywood right now, they’re rolling out the red carpet, pinning back the stage curtains, and polishing those familiar gold statues in preparation for this year’s Oscars. Meanwhile, across the pond, Agent Ade is rolling out the wood chippings, pinning back the polytunnel, and laying out his precious onion sets.
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the glitz and glamour of Plot 23d. Continue reading “Hollywood Comes to Plot 23d”
As it’s all systems go on the veg-growing front at the moment, it’s easy to get so caught up in the allotment, the garden gets forgotten. In the background she continues, without fuss, without complaint. While runner beans and sweetcorn rear their heads above their pots, the garden has her own delights to share.
The fig tree I bought a short while ago, shows promise… and fruit. 
Right now, our garden is awash with Spainish Bluebells. For many, there seems to be a love/hate relationship with these perennials. They certainly don’t compare to our very own native variety, yet I have a fondness for them. This year, we not only have the regular blue variety, but its white sister, also. 
Being a north-facing garden, woodland plants thrive and things can be a little slow to take off at times. Nevertheless, it means we get to enjoy the spring flowers, such as these Hellebores for an extra few weeks. 
A few years ago at the Chelsea Flower show, Agent Soph took a particular liking to an unnamed Aquilegia. As it was the last day of the show, they rang the bell at four o’clock and everything was up for grabs at a discounted price. It was a bloody battle to keep the other keen gardeners off the prize that Sophie had set her sights on; I still carry the scars to this day.
Sophie was unaware of how promiscuous Aquilegia can be, and every year, right on cue, this plant is the first to appear, in her ever-burgeoning numbers. .. 
In our compact front garden, I wanted the season to start with a bang, and to my delight, it’s full of shape and colour. Not only are there tulips and wallflowers, but the alliums, clematis and Fritillaria imperials are starting to rear their heads. 
My garden and allotment are very different ladies, however, both have very many merits, both are equally loved.
All I need now is an orchard…. 🙂
AGENTS OF FIELD 