I was champing at the bit to get up to the allotment and keep weeding what is now going to be the flower bed. But first I knew I had to get the potatoes in. A frost is predicted, but I have the areas covered in fleece so hopefully they won’t die dramatically while we are away in Spain next week.

I planted one row of Charlottes (carefully digging the trench and removing any slugs that were Lurking. Actually one slug dropped into one of my planting holes just as I was back filling the soil. Horrifying to think that this lucky slug was going to get a free meal of a potato until it was gorged and huge. Luckily I scooped it out. And mused on the diabolical thrill of getting my nematode pest controls ordered this week. They are a biological attempt at cutting down on slug numbers. You water the worms in and they burrow into the gut of slugs and kill them slowly. Horrid I know, but I think it is better than putting down slug pellets. Too many birds around my plot to risk a Robin getting poisoned instead. The nematode method only lasts three weeks and costs a bit (£10) but hopefully it will cut down the numbers in that time.

I then did David’s Pink Fir potatoes. All four and a half rows of them. And then had a break and stalked the plot. It’s that time when you peer at the beds just daring a weed to poke its head up and then you swoop. Actually this random stalking along the beds means that I’m a bit forgetful. I made the big mistake of spotting a weed in the top bed near the rhubarb. I gleefully dug and dug and accidentally pulled up another of those wretched huge rhubarb roots by mistake. Quite frankly it was the size of a vacuum cleaner hose. I hurriedly tried to buried it again, and smooth over the mound. I must remember to be more careful with my weeding up there.

Once I had dealt with any emerging greens and admired the growth the garlic is putting on, it was down to Slug work. The apple tree end of the plot needed attention. I pulled back the black protective cover over the last five feet of the top plot; and spent a happy time pulling off dozens of the little critters that had attached themselves to the surface. Then it was down to the fun business of pulling up the dead slimy weeds that were underneath. Slime plus weeds plus slugs. My bucket of salty water was put to use I can tell you. It was a regular killing field. Tomorrow (if the plumber ever turns up between 9 and 11am) I shall do the fun stuff of forking it over and getting down and yanking out the below-surface weeds.

First hellebore flower on the roof terrace has appeared (which has been relegated to the Cinderella of the gardens right now). I must remove the fleeces from the bottle brush trees after this last frost scare. It made me realise I forgot to mention that there are a few grape hyacinths and daffs emerging under the apple trees which is lovely. Free flowers I have inherited. I’d take a picture but the area is not really photogenic right now. Well it is in a small, don’t look at the huge piles of rubbish bags and mess just next to the trees kind of way. The skip for rubbish is due at the end of this month. Bring it on.

Vegetable: Potato Charlotte 6
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Pink Fir
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Pink Fir
How many?: 1 row (4 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: Bed 1

Vegetable: Potato Pink Fir
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: David’s area

Vegetable: Potato Pink Fir
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: David’s area

Vegetable: Potato Pink Fir
How many?: 1 row (6 tubers)
How planted?: Directly into the soil
Notes: David’s area

Vegetable: Sweet Basil
How many?: 12
How planted?: Jiffy 7s
Notes: In warm heated room

David had to work this weekend in the lab, so there was no chance to get up to the Peak District to climb. So after dangling around the house in the morning, I knew I just had to spend my afternoon at the allotment. Crowded car park, but I found a place to squeeze in and get all my tools out of the boot. I had barely arrived at my site when my ‘neighbour’ Rino called out and called me over for a visit.

He doesn’t speak much English, but we muddled on. And we had a sweet trot around his greenhouse and plot. He kindly walked the length of my site to see what I had, but I had so little to show it was a bit embarrassing – this is where the peas will go, this is where the cabbages will be etc. And he has artichokes.

By the time I extracted myself from socialising, I was dead keen to start. Today was just Weeding and Slugging and I must say I made great progress.

I even managed to get to the little shop for a break (chock full of people paying their annual fees) and spent big – plastic covers for sticks, twine, huge bundle of flower sticks, twelve 8 foot canes.

Gabriel in the queue behind me;
You’re not going to put your beans in yet are you? That would be crazy
No, of course not, it’s just that I’m not often up on a Saturday when the shop is open.
Phew. I didn’t look like an idiot. And all this booty cost me a mighty £5.10. I do love a subsidised garden centre.

I went back and weeded until I couldn’t take the rumbling tummy and went back home, happy at 4pm.