DOWN ON THE PLOT

KG reader Peter Dean has been very busy on his allotment, sowing, planting and planning what crops he will be growing over the summer

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In February I sowed my broad beans in a large planting tray filled with compost. The small plants were raised indoors, as I don't now have a greenhouse, until they were 4cm (1½in) high and had their first true leaves. Then I put the tray outside to harden the seedlings to the cold.

Now I have 50 broad bean plants in rows on my allotment plot. Initially they had a cover of chicken wire folded over them, like a cloche, to protect from mice. But now this has been removed so they can grow freely.

I also raised eight strawberry plants, two rhubarb plants and several asparagus roots indoors in pots. And now it is springtime it is okay to plant them outside. The soil has warmed up a little and the temperatures are more suitable for growth.

April was a busy month for seed sowing outdoors. I sowed carrots, peas, parsnips and beetroot, and planted onion sets.