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one Saturday morning with the help of my son. We got over 70 barrow loads and spread this over my plots. Some was also used to mulch my Rhubarb Crowns, something I try to do every year. We also moved up to the plot some old pots of compost that previously had bedding plants in at home and tipped them onto the piece of ground that my roots crops are to be grown in next year.
The weather in November was quite mild and I managed to start my winter digging and as always, I try to take a few days off to get this project started.
I like to dig with a spade, by first taking out a trench and putting the soil from this into a barrow. I then dig each section, working backwards chipping
in any weeds into the bottom followed by compost into each trench as I work across the plot, turning over the soil filling each trench as I go, and finally putting the soil from the barrow into the last trench. Then the plots are edged up and grass edges trimmed, ready for
any winter frosts to break up the soil. As I write I only have two sections of my plots left to dig, which I hope to have completed by Christmas. Once this is completed, I can sit back and relax, look out of the window and not worry about the weather and who knows maybe
I can find time to place my own seed order for the coming year!
Despite the difficulties we have all faced this year, I think 2020 has been a very good growing season and I have had some good crops on my plots. Let’s hope 2021 brings us all a little more normality and proves to be an excellent growing season. Don’t forget if any NAS member has a seed problem and needs some free advice, the team at Kings Seeds are always at the end of a phone to help.
Happy Gardening!
Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Director for Kings Seeds
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 23