Links to Mr Middleton's weekly tasks first:
1st Wednesday No visit to the allotment today.
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Wednesday, 1 July 2026
June 2026
Links to Mr. Middleton's weekly tasks for June:ks first:
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Thursday, 7 May 2026
May 2026
Links to Mr. Middleton's weekly tasks first:
1st Friday, No allotment or gardening work today as employment and volunteering occupied too much of my time today.
2nd Saturday, Sadly no gardening today as family duties occupied my time.
3rd Sunday, Weeds Out, Potatoes Clear
At last I managed a visit to the allotment today. The ground was calling for attention, and the hour was soon taken up with steady weeding, clearing and tidying, row by row, just as the old Ministry leaflets advised. By the time I left for home, my rows of potatoes were fully cleared of weeds, standing neat and ready to push on with their growth. A simple job, but a necessary one, and satisfying to see the plot looking sharper for the effort.
4th Monday, Last chance to pot on and water seedlings at home this morning as we set off on holiday this morning.
5th Tuesday, Away on holiday
6th Wednesday, Away on holiday. Managed to visit the Home Front museum in Llandudno today.
7th Thursday, Away on holiday
8th Friday, Away on holiday.
9th Saturday, Sadly no gardening today as family duties occupied my time.
10th Sunday, Weeds Rising, Harvest Gathered
I finally made it back to the allotment today. The recent heatwaves have pushed everything on, including the weeds and the plot showed it. My time there was taken up with steady weeding, clearing what I could. The Swiss chard had bolted in the sudden warmth, and the weeds had grown rampant in my absence, enough to give that familiar feeling of being overwhelmed. But the only way through is to tackle what’s in front of you, so I worked through as much as I could before heading home. And despite the chaos, the plot still offered plenty: I harvested rhubarb, Swiss chard, mizuna, ruby streaks and Mexican tree spinach, a good reminder that even in the busiest weeks, the ground keeps giving.
11th Monday Duty First, Then Digging
After a long day at work, finishing gone 6pm while clearing the backlog of last week’s admin, I turned my attention back to allotment duties. As Chairman, it fell to me to prepare the non‑cultivation letter for Plot 24a, having already discussed the matter with the committee. Once written, I hand‑delivered it to the tenant’s house on my way to the site. A small but necessary piece of keeping the plots in good order.
On the allotment itself, I put in a solid hour of weeding, steady, determined, and very much in the Dig for Victory spirit. One hour doesn’t conquer the front, but it certainly pushes the line forward. Bit by bit, the weeds are losing ground.
A late start, but a worthwhile one. The season marches on, and so do we.
12th Tuesday, A Rainy Day Indoors
No allotment visit today, I was caught out in the rain at work and decided not to slog up to the plot dripping wet. Instead, I stayed home and turned my attention to the trays of seedlings that had been quietly demanding attention. A good number needed pricking out and potting on, so the evening became a gentle production line of compost, labels, and tiny roots.
I also took the chance to update the allotment association logo, the old one had served us well for over a decade, but it was definitely showing its age. The new version is sharper, cleaner, and ready for the next chapter.
A quieter day, but still a productive one in its own way.
13th Wednesday, A Long Day, a Quick Visit, and Some Sad News
Despite a very long working day today, I still managed a brief visit to the allotment this evening. First job was to check on the plot I’d recently served an improvement notice on, still showing no signs of weeding, which isn't good to see.
While there, I saw our Treasurer, who passed on some sad news: the Secretary’s dog, a familiar companion on the allotments for over a decade, had to be put down yesterday. A loyal little presence gone, and the site will feel different without her.
I then turned to my own clear‑out, filling three large sacks with the weeds I’ve been digging out over the past few days: nettles, bindweed, cleavers and the stubborn mare’s tail. On the way home, I emptied the lot at the local recycling centre, a small but satisfying win at the end of a long day.
14th Thursday, Weather Against Us, but Work Goes On
I finished work mid‑afternoon, keen to get up to the allotment and put in a few honest hours. After being caught out in an unexpected hailstone shower this morning, the bright afternoon sun looked like a welcome change, almost a signal to “dig on”. But just as I was preparing to set off, the skies closed ranks again and a heavy rain set in, putting paid to any hopes of getting onto the soil today. Typical British weather, doing its level best to hinder the home‑front gardener.
Still, the spirit of Dig for Victory is to press on regardless, so this evening I turned to indoor duties and sowed another round of squash and brassica seeds. Not the visit I’d planned, but progress all the same, every tray sown is another step toward a fuller harvest.
15th Friday, Breakdown and a Quiet Evening. The working day took an unexpected turn when the vehicle everything depends on suffered a major mechanical failure, needing urgent recovery and immediate garage attention. With plans thrown off course, there was no allotment visit today. Instead, the evening was spent keeping things ticking over at home, watering the seedlings in the greenhouse and adding fresh material to the compost heap. A small bit of progress on a day that didn’t go to plan
16th Saturday, A Day Pulled in Other Directions . Today didn’t unfold as planned. I should have been chairing the allotment self‑management meeting, but instead I spent the morning trying to source a replacement work vehicle after yesterday’s breakdown and got nowhere with it. With family visiting all day, there was no allotment visit and no gardening done. Just one of those days where life pulls you away from the soil.
17th Sunday, Evening Graft After a Family Day. After more family visits today, I only made it to the allotment in the evening. Before anything else, I put in a solid hour of weeding, especially tackling the nettles that had sprung up among the soft fruit bushes and canes. Some were over four feet tall, but every last one came out. Once the ground was clear, I harvested a good armful of rhubarb and a few sturdy leeks to take home. A late visit, but a productive one.
18th Monday, The 846‑Week Challenge
Britain spent around 336 weeks at war during WWII. If you start counting from 18 May 2026, that same span would end on 31 October 2032.
If you extend the timeline to include the full wartime and post‑war rationing period, roughly 846 weeks, the equivalent end date becomes 8 August 2042.
By then I’ll be well into my 70s, and hopefully still here. So I’m treating this as a long‑view challenge: to grow as much of my own food as possible, inspired by the Dig for Victory spirit. Not following rationing to the letter, but taking lessons from it, because one never knows what the future holds.
The 846‑week challenge began today, and I eased into it with a simple, grounding rhythm. Breakfast was porridge oats with a cup of coffee, lunch a bowl of vegetable soup with two slices of sourdough, and dinner an omelette packed with leek, ruby streaks, Swiss chard and mushrooms. Pudding was a proper treat: rhubarb crumble with clotted cream the sort of finish that makes a day feel complete.
In the evening I headed to the allotment. The weather had settled, and I had a brief chat with a fellow plotholder before getting on with the job at hand. I’d brought tomato plants from home to settle into the polytunnel, and it felt good to finally get them in place.
What really lifted my spirits, though, was seeing the new plant‑swap table up and running in the centre of the site. My own chilli sowings had failed this year, so picking up two healthy chilli plants felt like a small triumph, the kind of neighbourly exchange that keeps an allotment community thriving.
19th Tuesday, Rain Stopped Play, But Not Progress
No visit to the allotment today, steady rainfall through the afternoon and evening kept me indoors, despite having a large batch of lettuce seedlings ready to plant out. The weather may have won this round, but the day still found its rhythm.
Breakfast was simple: porridge and coffee. Lunch, a sandwich. Dinner was meant to be curried Swiss chard and rice, but it vanished as soon as I cooked it, so a quick vegetable noodle stir‑fry took its place, followed by yoghurt and raspberries for dessert.
The centre ribs of the Swiss chard leaves were pickled, a new idea I’m trying to make better use of what grows so readily. Even on a rain‑soaked day, there’s satisfaction in finding ways to turn the harvest into something new.
20th Wednesday, Evening at the Allotment
Visited the allotment tonight. I didn’t plant the lettuce seedlings as planned, but instead potted on some kale (cavolo nero) and planted out Brussels sprouts. Took more tomato plants to the plot and placed them safely inside the polytunnel. A lucky find on the swap table, a wineberry plant to add to the collection. On the way home, I took three sacks of weeds to the recycling centre, clearing a bit more space for the next round of planting.
Commenced weeding amongst the alliums, managing almost three rows before dusk.
Breakfast was porridge and coffee, lunch a sandwich and tea, and dinner chicken curry and rice, with a few Jersey Royal potatoes, Ruby Streak, Mexican Tree Spinach, and Swiss Chard sneaked in for good measure. A proper Dig for Victory plate to end the day.
21st Thursday, Late‑Night Tasks on the Plot
After a busy day at work, I made a late visit to the allotment tonight arriving after 8pm. The remaining tomato plants were taken up and settled inside the polytunnel, joining the others already finding their feet. I managed to sow some beans before the light faded, and picked up a surprise from the swap table, a houseplant to bring home. Weeding continued amongst the alliums, slowly pushing the rows back into order. Progress is progress, even in small stretches.
Meals were simple today: porridge and coffee for breakfast, a sandwich and coffee for lunch, and a burger with fries for dinner, rounded off with a small side salad, a nod to the home‑grown greens waiting in the wings.
22nd Friday, A Day of Moving, But Nowhere to Move Into
No visit to the allotment today. I was at work first thing, then took the rest of the day off to help my daughter and son‑in‑law move house. But not everything went to plan. They’d sold their house, emptied every room, and we all loaded extra bits into our cars, only to arrive at the new place and find the seller delaying everything at the last moment. It turned out there was a problem with the seller’s contract, and worse still, the seller had no intention of moving out today. Emergency plans had to be made on the spot. The removal men took all their furniture to a hastily hired storage unit, and for the foreseeable future, I now have house guests. Meals were scattered around the chaos: porridge and coffee for breakfast, two bananas and water for lunch, and later in the evening, when the heat and the stress finally eased, just a sandwich and a cool drink. Whether it was the weather or the emotional weight of the day, I didn’t feel hungry.A long, unexpected day, and not the one any of us had hoped for.
23rd Saturday, Housework, Heat, and a Quiet Visit to the Plot
Housework filled most of the day, the kind of steady background work that never quite ends. After the evening meal I made a short visit to the allotment, purely to water the plants in the polytunnel. The heat was still hanging in the air. I bumped into the secretary and treasurer and had a brief chat about life and what I’d missed at last Saturday’s meeting. One outcome was the creation of a seed and plant swap table in the centre of the site, something we’d talked about for over a decade but never actually put in place. Good to see it finally happen. The treasurer kindly offered me a few replacement seedlings, which I gladly accepted after losing bean plants and a few others in last month’s heatwave. Still adjusting to having house guests, so the allotment remains a welcome bit of calm. Meals today were simple: a BLT for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and homemade pizza for dinner, followed by yoghurt and soft fruit. The warm weather stayed with us throughout.
24th Sunday Heat, Humidity, and a Day of Painting
It was hot and humid from early morning, so with the promise of dry weather I stayed home and began painting the front‑garden fence, a job long overdue. Six hours went into it, lunch included, and I’m already dreading having to do it all again. But with the neighbour away for the bank holiday, I’d said I’d get it done, so on I went.
My daughter arrived with more paint for the porch and the garage‑side fence, and I can already see a full week or two of painting ahead if I had the time, the back‑garden fence and all the decking still need refreshing. Early evening was spent watering the greenhouse plants and checking what’s growing at home.
Meals were simple: a BLT for breakfast, some beige picnic bits for lunch after plans changed in the heat, and roast potatoes, parsnips, ham, mashed carrot and swede, and steamed cabbage for dinner. The heat stayed with us right into the evening.
25th Monday Bank Holiday Heat and a Late Visit to the Plot
Bank Holiday Monday arrived hot and humid from early morning, with temperatures sitting above 30°C for most of the day. I went into work first thing to prep for tomorrow, then returned home, changed into civvies, and cooked lunch before prepping apples for turnovers, not the ideal task in this heat, but satisfying all the same.
With the temperature refusing to drop, I didn’t head to the allotment until 7 pm. The site was surprisingly busy, full of like‑minded plot holders making the most of the cooler evening. I spoke with the secretary, who’s hoping to find a replacement border collie and worries his age might count against him.
I carried out a bit of weeding and watered some of the outdoor crops, mainly beans and kale. I also rediscovered my list of Bank Holiday allotment jobs, plans that Friday’s events had completely derailed.
Inside the polytunnel, the tomatoes were struggling with the heat, so I potted several on into their final pots. Only 27 more to go. I also sowed more beans, hoping the warm spell will bring them on quickly.
Back home, the early evening was spent watering the greenhouse plants and checking what’s growing.
Meals today were simple: porridge oats for breakfast, a BLT roll for lunch, and a roast ham sandwich for dinner the heat didn’t leave much appetite. Dessert was fruit and yoghurt. The heat stayed with us right into the night.
26th Tuesday, Heat, Humidity, and an Early‑Evening Watering Run
It was hot and humid again from early morning, with temperatures climbing above 30°C for most of the day. I went into work first thing, but with the heat building I made sure to finish early afternoon before returning later to wrap things up.
I visited the allotment early in the evening, just long enough to water the plants, it was far too hot to take on anything more. The site was busy again with like‑minded plot holders escaping the worst of the sun. I spoke with the secretary, who’s viewed a border collie pup but now has to satisfy the Dogs Trust criteria before he can bring it home.
Inside the polytunnel, the tomatoes are responding well to the repotting and regular watering despite the heat. Still 27 more waiting their turn. Back at home, the early evening was spent watering the greenhouse plants and checking what’s coming along.
Meals were light today: two bananas for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, and a jacket potato with cheese for dinner, followed by fruit and yoghurt. The heat stayed with us right through the night. 1 week down, 845 still to go.
27th Wednesday, Late Shift, Late Visit, and Thunder at Last
It was hot and humid again from early morning, though a touch cooler than yesterday. Another split‑shift day had me finishing work at 9 pm, and only then did I head to the allotment for a quick round of watering the plants. Even at that hour there were still a couple of plot holders on site, making the most of the cooler air.
I brought a couple of tomato plants home to grow on in the greenhouse, a small bit of progress at the end of a long day.
Meals were simple and steady: porridge oats and a banana for breakfast, a pork pie and an egg custard for lunch, and Chicken Tikka Masala with Pilau Rice for dinner, followed by another egg custard for dessert.
In the early hours, thunderstorms finally arrived, bringing the first much‑needed rain after days of oppressive heat.
28th Thursday, A Brief Visit in the Heat
It was hot again from early morning, though a little cooler than yesterday. After a steady day, I made only a brief visit to the allotment this evening, just enough to water the plants and check everything over. Nothing major to tackle in the warmth.Meals were straightforward today: porridge oats for breakfast, a scotch egg and an egg custard for lunch, and a jacket potato with cheese and coleslaw for dinner, followed by another egg custard for dessert. A simple routine on a warm late‑May day.
29th Friday, Bolting Chard, Beans Planted, and a Late‑Evening Retreat Upstairs
A slightly longer visit to the allotment tonight. Before watering, I noticed the Swiss chard was bolting, tall and unsightly, so I pulled out several of the bigger plants and did a bit of weeding around the beds. I also planted out some climbing beans to replace those lost in last month’s heatwave. The weather remains dry and warm, and the soil shows it.Back home, the challenge of houseguests using the sofabed continues. When they want an early night, it means we’re banished upstairs earlier than planned. I returned home at 9:45 pm, still light outside, and felt a touch miffed, but settled with a book until I grew drowsy.Meals today were simple: porridge oats for breakfast, a ham sandwich and an egg custard for lunch, and steak and chips for dinner, a small celebration that our daughter and son‑in‑law’s situation may finally be moving toward resolution.
30th Saturday, Heritage, Chard Clearing, and an Injured Crow
Today was part of the local heritage weekend, and I’d booked a visit to the site where one of my grandfathers worked during the war, an industrial relic now slowly being restored. The highlight was stepping inside the air‑raid shelter he and his colleagues used during the Blitz of May 1941. A strange feeling, standing where he once stood, hearing echoes of a life lived under very different pressures.
Later in the evening I headed to the allotment for what should have been a longer visit. I continued clearing the bolting Swiss chard, opening the space ready for squash planting, did a spot of weeding, and planted out the last of the peas. The weather remains dry and warm, and the soil shows it.
But the visit was cut short by a phone call: a crow had flown into a window at home and was injured. That meant an immediate trip to the emergency vet. By the time I returned home, the rain had finally begun, much needed after the long dry spell.
Meals today were steady: a BLT for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, and chicken with potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans for dinner.
31st Sunday, Eight Hours in the Back Garden and a Quiet Evening on the Decking
No allotment visit today. Instead, I spent over eight hours weeding and tidying the back garden. Once everything was cleared and moved aside, the space somehow looked much bigger; amazing what a proper tidy‑up can reveal.
We inherited crazy paving from the previous owner, and after seeing it featured in a 1930s gardening book, I’ve decided it can stay for now. It does attract weeds, though, so I worked through the cracks, pulling them out and burning the stumps in the hope they won’t regrow.
Apart from the occasional plane overhead, it was just the sounds of nature, and as the evening drew in I sat out on the decking feeling rather pleased with the day’s work. The weather remains dry and warm.
Meals were simple: a BLT for breakfast, just a scotch egg for lunch while I stayed focused on the garden, and chicken burgers with a side salad for dinner.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
April 2026
Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st :
1st Saturday,
2nd Sunday,
3rd Monday,
4th (International carrot day)
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7th
8th
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11th
12th
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25th Saturday Carried out the plot inspections this morning a task which took up almost two hours with further reports to compose later. Raspberry canes that had been on order by two of the association members finally arrived - the order has been submitted in November 2024! Had a meeting with the allotment barbeque committee after the inspections to discuss the 3 social gatherings planned on site this year.
26th Sunday Most of today was spent at home. Fitted roof bars and a roof box to my car as the box had been in the garage since the end of 2023. A spot of pottering around in the garden occured but still lots to do to finally get it all tidy and in order. Positioned the last of the five chimney pots in place by the stone wall and commenced partially filling them with homemade compost. Split the hosta that had been growing in a plastic pot and replanted them into the two round chimneys. There are still plenty of the London Plane leaves on the ground which I am gradually tidying up and putting into the compost bins. Did a spot of weeding in the back garden and sown the sunflower seeds for the competition.
Visited the allotment briefly in the evening to water the bean plants, sadly it seems the recent heatwave has taken it's toll on the plants. I had forgotten to water them yesterday when I went to do the inspections. Did a brief spot of weeding between the rows of onions and harvested some mizuna and ruby streaks leaves. Back home and I repotted the houseplants in the porch, a task I had procrastinated for far too long.
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Thursday, 12 March 2026
March 2026
Here are the links to Mr. Middleton's tasks for the month of March:
Below are the above tasks set out as if they were a MOA fact sheet:
✤✤✤ MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ✤✤✤
MARCH ON THE ALLOTMENT
DUTIES FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS PLOT‑HOLDER
Issued for the Guidance of the Allotment Holder and Cottage Gardener
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CLEARING & PREPARING THE LAND
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[ ] Clear land as crops are used; heel in leeks and celery in a sheltered corner or frame.
[ ] Clear Brussels sprouts as used; save the tops for spring greens.
[ ] Fork soil only when dry; avoid working heavy wet ground.
[ ] Complete any remaining digging before growth begins.
[ ] Work sandy soils now: add manure, dig, and lime.
[ ] Prepare trenches for peas and beans (18 in. deep), lining with cardboard, manure, peelings, then soil.
[ ] Prepare outside seed bed with superphosphate (3 oz per sq. yd.); rake fine and remove stones.
[ ] Attend to asparagus beds; lightly fork in winter manure.
[ ] Make new asparagus beds (5 ft wide for 3 rows).
[ ] Case mushroom beds once spawn threads radiate; maintain earlier beds at 75°F for spawning.
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PEST & DISEASE WATCH
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[ ] Watch for cabbage aphid; use peppermint‑based spray or strong mint tea with a little soap.
[ ] Remove swollen buds on blackcurrants (big bud mite).
[ ] Watch for fruit diseases; lime sulphur or Bordeaux mixture historically used.
[ ] Freshen greasebands on apple trees; do not remove too early.
[ ] Attack apple pests with nicotine spray (historical).
[ ] Spray apples and pears for caterpillars, scab, or mildew (historical materials).
[ ] Manage Tarsonemid mite on strawberries (historical burning method described).
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SOWING OUTDOORS
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[ ] Sow parsnips without delay; intersow lettuce and radish to mark rows.
[ ] Sow onions outdoors promptly; spring onions also.
[ ] Sow spinach outdoors; also sow leeks, cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, peas, and broad beans.
[ ] Sow carrots, beetroot, and turnips outside.
[ ] Sow outdoor tomatoes now.
[ ] Sow parsley, sage, thyme, and celery outdoors in patches or drifts.
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SOWING INDOORS, UNDER GLASS & IN FRAMES
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[ ] Prick out leeks, onions, and celery; move to cold frame to harden off.
[ ] Make another sowing of tomatoes indoors.
[ ] Sow celeriac in trays.
[ ] Sow brassicas indoors; prick out and transfer to cold frame.
[ ] Plant out lettuce seedlings or grow under cloches.
[ ] Plant out overwintered cauliflowers from frames.
[ ] Sow sage and thyme in trays.
[ ] Sow sweet corn indoors.
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HARDENING OFF & EARLY PLANTING
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[ ] Harden off onions and leeks in cold frames; give leeks plenty of air.
[ ] Plant out early potatoes 6 in. deep; continue planting as weather allows.
[ ] Reduce sprouts on seed potatoes to two for larger tubers.
[ ] Plant shallots, garlic, and horseradish (3 in. pieces).
[ ] Plant out autumn‑sown onions, cauliflowers, and early cabbage.
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GREENHOUSE & COLD GREENHOUSE WORK
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[ ] Pot tomatoes into 5‑inch pots.
[ ] Use cold greenhouse for winter lettuce followed by early cauliflower, then tomatoes.
[ ] Sow tomatoes for outdoor and indoor crops.
[ ] Sow celeriac, herbs, and brassicas in trays.
[ ] Train cucumbers up wires or canes in heated greenhouse.
[ ] Stake cucumbers as needed.
[ ] Ventilate greenhouse fruit and spray with water (historical nicotine wash).
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FRUIT TREES & SOFT FRUIT CARE
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[ ] Feed fruit trees with general fertiliser or sulphate mix (historical).
[ ] Complete planting of fruit trees before growth begins.
[ ] Support raspberries; prune gooseberries.
[ ] Cut back autumn‑planted raspberries to 1 ft.
[ ] Examine blackcurrants; remove big‑bud‑mite buds.
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MUSHROOM BEDS
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[ ] Spawn mushroom beds when temperature falls to 75°F.
[ ] Case mushroom beds with poor, weed‑free soil once spawn threads radiate.
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✤ DIG FOR VICTORY ✤
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1st No allotment visit today as work from 7am -8:15pm
2nd Rain today, no allotment visit but did arrange for the neighbourhood watch to check the allotment site in the evening.
3rd visited the allotment, completed 2 hours of weeding and pruning. Planted up a row of Swiss chard. Harvested rhubarb and some salad leaves.
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14th Submitted my application form to continue on the allotment committee to the secretary. I've been the chairman for over a decade now despite having a very busy job and having taken on several volunteering roles in between. Managed to get two other plotholders to propose and second my application. Visited the allotment, weeded a row of leeks and removed a strawberry barrel from the plot after several years of limited success.
15th Potted on the tomato plants from seeds sown in January. Sown Welsh onion, French beans, gherkins, winter squash and peppers.
16th Sown marigold seeds this morning ahead of setting off on holiday.
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31st
Saturday, 28 February 2026
February 2026
✤✤✤ MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ✤✤✤
THE KITCHEN GARDEN
DUTIES FOR THE LATE WINTER MONTHS
Issued for the Guidance of the Allotment Holder and Cottage Gardener
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CROPPING, SOIL WORK & PREPARATION
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[ ] Prepare the cropping plan using past records and sound rotation.
[ ] Dig whenever soil conditions allow; work little and often as beds clear.
[ ] Add manure during digging; lime autumn‑manured beds now, never together.
[ ] Break down soil after frost; fork to produce a fine tilth.
[ ] Clean paths and working areas after digging to discourage pests.
[ ] Lift parsnips and leeks in wet spells; store parsnips in sand.
[ ] Start a new compost heap using suitable household waste.
[ ] Remove 1–2 inches of soil around wall fruit and top‑dress with bone meal.
[ ] Prepare onion beds with bone meal and general fertiliser; apply lime where needed.
[ ] Break up compacted ground around fruit trees after pruning.
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SEED ORDERING, STORAGE & CHITTING
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[ ] Order seeds and seed potatoes without delay.
[ ] Begin chitting seed potatoes; later reduce sprouts to two for maincrop.
[ ] Examine stored potatoes and root crops; remove unsound specimens.
[ ] Select sound onions for seed‑saving and pot individually.
[ ] Sort stored apples and pears; use any that show shrivelling.
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SOWING OUTDOORS WHEN CONDITIONS PERMIT
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[ ] Sow peas, radish and round‑seeded spinach in warm positions.
[ ] Sow parsnips as soon as soil can be worked cleanly.
[ ] Sow broad beans outdoors or in trays for later planting.
[ ] Sow shorthorn carrots, beetroot and radishes under cloches or in warm spots.
[ ] Sow early dwarf peas (round‑seeded) for hardiness.
[ ] Sow Brussels sprouts and summer cabbage in cold frames.
[ ] Plant autumn‑sown onions now.
[ ] Sow early peas, sprouts and summer carrots in frames.
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SOWING UNDER GLASS, IN FRAMES & INDOORS
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[ ] Sow onions, lettuce and cauliflowers in gentle heat.
[ ] Sow peas in pots for March planting.
[ ] Sow mustard and cress regularly; sow cress earlier.
[ ] Sow leeks for June planting.
[ ] Sow sprouts in trays; prick out later.
[ ] Sow cucumbers singly in pots at 55–60°F.
[ ] Make the first tomato sowing; light is limited.
[ ] Sow turnips, radish and carrots in a newly made hot‑bed.
[ ] Sow summer cabbage and cauliflowers in frames.
[ ] Sow maincrop onions urgently; prick out January sowings.
[ ] Sow parsley indoors.
[ ] Sow celery in trays at 55–60°F.
[ ] Maintain follow‑on lettuce sowings for frames and cloches.
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TRANSPLANTING & PLANTING OUT
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[ ] Transplant autumn‑sown onions to final positions.
[ ] Plant onion sets 12 in. by 6 in.
[ ] Plant shallots as soon as ground is workable.
[ ] Replant leeks in sheltered spots.
[ ] Plant Jerusalem artichokes 5–6 in. deep, spaced to avoid shading.
[ ] Lift and store artichokes annually to keep them manageable.
[ ] Complete planting of fruit trees if soil allows.
[ ] Plant early strawberries in pots or frames for forcing.
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GREENHOUSE, FRAME & HOT‑BED WORK
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[ ] Make and begin using a hot‑bed for early crops.
[ ] Pot young tomatoes into 3½‑inch pots; keep at 60°F.
[ ] Make another tomato sowing if required.
[ ] Pot cucumbers into 5‑inch pots.
[ ] Prepare greenhouse troughs for tomatoes (12–15 in. wide, 10 in. deep).
[ ] Maintain lettuce succession; plant seedlings 8 in. apart.
[ ] Water greenhouse lettuces carefully, avoiding leaves.
[ ] Grow strawberries in pots, increasing pot size gradually.
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PROTECTION & MANAGEMENT OF WINTER CROPS
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[ ] Protect autumn‑sown onions with cloches or fleece.
[ ] Ventilate cold frames freely; cover in frosts.
[ ] Remove dead or diseased leaves; block cloche ends against draughts.
[ ] Draw soil up around broad beans; sow more if weather permits.
[ ] Earth up spring cabbage to encourage fresh rooting.
[ ] Examine cabbage, kale and broccoli; bend outer leaves over centres.
[ ] Fill gaps in cabbage rows using frame‑grown reserves.
[ ] Remove dead leaves from broccoli and calabrese.
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FRUIT TREES, SOFT FRUIT & WALL FRUIT
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[ ] Complete winter pruning of fruit trees.
[ ] Thin fruit spurs on espaliers before spraying.
[ ] Winter‑spray fruit trees with dormant oil on dry, non‑freezing days.
[ ] Service sprayers and ensure materials are at hand.
[ ] After gales, firm in or stake young trees.
[ ] Protect peach blossom from frost with doubled fish‑netting.
[ ] Spray peaches with Bordeaux or Burgundy mixture.
[ ] Protect fruit buds from bullfinches using black cotton.
[ ] Cut back autumn‑planted raspberries to 1 ft.
[ ] Examine blackcurrants; remove swollen buds (big bud mite).
[ ] Tie wall fruit to wires, avoiding canvas or rags.
[ ] Paint large pruning wounds (historical practice).
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FORCING & PROPAGATION
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[ ] Force rhubarb indoors; keep crowns moist and dark.
[ ] Prepare additional forced rhubarb if crowns permit.
[ ] Force rhubarb and seakale outdoors using pots or barrels.
[ ] Maintain succession of forced rhubarb and seakale.
[ ] Lift last indoor seakale crowns for forcing.
[ ] Propagate seakale using 6‑inch “thongs” in boxes of soil.
[ ] Force herbs such as chives, mint and tarragon at 55°F.
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ADDITIONAL SEASONAL DUTIES
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[ ] Maintain greenhouse lettuce succession; remove poor leaves.
[ ] Check September‑sown onions in frames for slugs and ventilation.
[ ] Attend to tomato seedlings when true leaves appear.
[ ] Maintain order in frames and cloches, guarding against frost and damp.
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✤ DIG FOR VICTORY ✤
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Wednesday, 7 January 2026
January 2026
Click on the links to Mr. Middleton's tasks for January below:
My 2026
Allotment/Garden/Kitchen Diary below:
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Friday, 2 January 2026
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