It must be serious as 'The basket' has been out down to the allotment for the first time this year. We have been collecting the first peas of the season, oh my goodness it's great to start collecting little harvests again. It feels like forever since my daughter and I have sat popping pea pods in the sunshine. The joy of watching kids eating vegetables straight from your plot is unparalleled isn't it?

We collected a big batch of peas and sat there munching away watching the swifts showing off over our heads and listening to the bees busy collecting their pollen from every flower they could land on, it really was bliss. It was one of those moments when there's only you on the whole site, no petrol strimmers or squeaky wheel barrows, just us and the bees, heaven!

It wasn't all sitting around though as I had to earth up my spuds again. I have to say we are either in for a bumper harvest of spuds this year or a mass of foliage and much disappointment, as I'm earthing up every couple of days. I'm guessing it's down to the mild weather and crazy amounts of rain we are getting. I just hope the slugs aren't under my soil feasting on every spud. Oh the heart break of digging up a massive huge potato then discovering it's completely hollow, it makes even the most hardened allotment owners heart sink. Fingers crossed for plenty of spuds and no tears.

My allotment to do list:

Sow your fennel, it's usually done after the longest day to stop it bolting.

Dead head your lupins.

Feed all your crops with a liquid fertiliser.

Damp down greenhouses because when the sun is actually out it gets hot extremely fast in there.

Get those rubbish CDs out and hang them among your fruit trees or over strawberries to scare away the birds.

Don't let the rain stop you from getting down to your plot. I know it's hard to find the motivation, but I assure you the weeds aren't bothered by rain and they will keep growing.

If you have any allotment queries, email: vixlot@outlook.com