OUR PLOTTER OF THE MONTH

Kitchen Garden readers really rose to the challenge when we asked for pictures of their plots to appear in the magazine this year. It’s time to meet another of our 12 creative and talented Plotter of the Month winners

- CHRISTINE CHATFIELD 

Christine has a small London allotment plot, which she waited more than six years to get, and a couple of overflow raised beds in her small garden at home.

When did you start growing veg?

I started growing veg when I was about 13 and carried on until I was in my mid 20s when I moved into a flat with no growing space apart from windowsills indoors. However, I seriously started growing food about 12 years ago when I finally got my allotment. I had been on the waiting list for six-and-a-half years. Initially, I think I started because I wanted my mother to buy some corn on the cob and she said: "If you want corn on the cob, you'll have to grow it yourself." So, I did, along with a few other things. It was a steep learning curve, but I really loved it. My mum was a gardener, but she loved to grow flowers, mainly roses. At the bottom of her garden there was a small strip of no man's land that led up to the allotments that I could see from my bedroom window. My mum had terraced this steep strip and allowed me to have one of the terraces to grow what I wanted. This was where my passion began.

Do you share your plot with other people?

My husband helps with the building and putting together of things, but as far as the growing is concerned I do it all myself. I don't even let him pick anything, let alone anyone else!

What do you find most challenging about growing your own veg?