Down on our humble little plot, there are signs of growth too. We now have
a range of fruit and veg taking root. Hardy Charlotte potatoes are doing
well, as are the strawberries, onions and yellow courgettes. Purpling
sprouting broccoli is proving a bit of a pain, though, as the pigeons love
it! We have protective fleece over that at the mo until we get our canes
and netting manoeuvres sorted out. Beetroot and Lollo Rossa seedlings are
also poking through.

We now have four beautiful dwarf fruit trees artfully scattered across our
allotment - Braeburn apple, Conference pear, Morello cherry and Victoria
plum - some of which are blossoming.

And the scorching weather at the end of last week saw us armed with seeds
galore to sow into the ground direct. In went a couple of varieties of
carrots, sweet chubby Chantenay and Nantes 2, Purple Plum radishes, more
courgettes and sugar snap peas, planted alongside a mini potato crop which
has popped up from last year.

Simon, the chap next door, has helpfully given us a bunch of other packets
of seeds including pak choi, spinach, celeriac and chicory, but we're
taking stock before deciding what goes in next.

Plotter John, who has a really impressive all-singing, all-dancing
plot, also kindly gave us a new batch of purple sprouting broccoli
seedlings ready for us to thin out in pots.

Meanwhile the herb garden back at home is taking shape, along with the
tomato plants on the patio. Flowers are appearing signalling the imminent
arrival of sweet cherry toms. Roll on summer.