Allotment Tales 19-02-2026

Wintery conditions limited activity on the allotment over January and into February. Some work has been possible – pruning the hazel windbreak, replacing bed surrounds, perennial weeding. These are all good to get done before the soil warms up and the growing season kicks in.

On Thursday conditions were settled and dry – perfect for a bonfire and a great way to keep warm in the chilly air. We managed to get through a pile of fruit tree prunings built up over the past 6 months. Once cooled, the ash will go back into the soil around our fruit shrubs, providing a much welcome potash feed.

Last Sunday, George Anderson braved the rain to deliver a Winter Fruit Pruning workshop at Bridgend. Impressively, despite heavy rain and competing Six Nation rugby viewing, all 25 participants attended, Allotmenteers are a hardy bunch! We were able to use the covered barn and George gave a masterclass – covering best tools for the job, advice about rootstock whilst buying fruit trees and shrubs, aims of pruning and distinguishing fruiting and vegetative buds. Gooseberries, currants and apples were covered, with the main take away being – have a go! It’s unlikely that you’ll do serious damage to these hardy plants, which are primed to survive. Mistakes will provide learning and build confidence for future years.

Jobs for next week: put George’s advice into practice and get on with our own winter pruning; check seed packet dates in preparation for this year’s sowing; weed; establish a separate store of distinguishable tools for the beds affected by clubroot