I HEADED down to my plot after the strong winds of last weekend and I was so relieved I’d escaped any catastrophes. I think my dad’s weather warning helped me out.

There were a few rogue cloches from neighbouring plots scattered around and of course plastic bin lids, but apart from that it was all good.

So I got out my favourite spade and started to dig. I use a border spade, I find them much lighter to use all day.

Now is a great time to give your plot a decent dig over, turning the earth over and opening it up to the winter frosts.

There’s no need to rake it flat afterwards leave the clods for the frost to break up.

Many people don’t like doing this for a few reasons.

The first one being, it’s back breaking work and the other reason is that some people say it takes longer to warm your soil up in spring.

We all garden differently, I prefer to open the soil to the frost.

The frost will kill off any pests and disease lurking under the surface which builds up over the season.

From my point of view, I’d sooner the frost do the job than chemicals, plus Jack Frost visits for free whether I want him to or not.

I’m always surprised by how many slug and snail eggs I find too. My friend Mr Robin follows my every move and as soon as the tiny eggs are unearthed he swoops in to help me ‘deal with them’.

I often wonder if they are like caviar to him, well after a wet old summer he is sure to find lots, happy Christmas my feathered friend!

My allotment to do list:

n Empty water butts, the freezing water can split them.

n If you haven’t sown winter salads yet sow them now, winter purslane is good.

n Keep filling legume trenches with kitchen waste, peeling & newspaper etc. But don’t add cooked stuff that will attract rodents.

n Start gathering together your bamboo canes they will rot if you leave them out and the last thing you want is them snapping when they are covered in lush green beans next year.

If you have an allotment query, you can email: vixlot@outlook.com