LIFE ON THE ALLOTMENT

Located right behind my house, my plot sits within a small, but popular, city allotment. We are an eclectic bunch of allotmenteers with most people working full time. Since lockdown began, it’s been a great place to interact – the plots work well for social distancing!

WHEN IT’S SHOW TIME

Each year at the end of August, I organise the end of season get-together, where we have a best and worst in show competition. This picture is from last year when I won best for the worst misshapen hybrid courgette and Martyn won best for his amazing tomatoes.

THE FLORA AND FAUNA

I find being outdoors among nature very therapeutic. The allotment is abundant with wildlife. We share it with two resident squirrels, a fox, frogs, a tortoise and all sorts of birds – they're always on the lookout for worms. There are also a couple of beehives; note the homemade bee life raft floating on the water butt.

WHAT I'M GROWING...

The start of the season coincided with the beginning of lockdown, so there was a scramble for seeds and plants. That being said, I've managed to grow strawberries, rhubarb, miniature apples, gooseberries, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, broad beans, runner beans, courgettes and artichokes. There will be no excuses this year for my plot not to be of Chelsea Flower Show standard!

ROSARIE'S GARDENING TIPS

1. Plan out where you intend to grow things for the season in a sketch, marking where you planted seeds – as this can be tricky to remember!

2. If the ground is bad or you haven't had enough time to tend it, plant potatoes. They'll grow anywhere (from buckets to plant pots) and will make the soil easier to grow in next time.
3. There are lots of rules about growing. You can ignore most of them – after all, for most of us gardening is a hobby, not a competition, and we are very happy to eat misshapen odds and sods of produce.
4. Gooseberries soaked in vodka and sugar, and rhubarb soaked in gin are a great way to use up surplus berries – and they aren't as fattening as jam, pies or crumbles!