The running theme of 2026 so far is being behind on everything, lots of other things in life going on. Today though was sunny and a good day, I spent it in the garden while the sun reached the higher bed. I took out last year’s celery and one or two beetroot which had been left over. I dug in the single surviving broad bean plant which, while the only still remaining, did not look that viable. I’ve sown seed in pots and will split those between the garden and the allotment. Each year I try to over winter in the garden but it has never worked, no sun and too much rain for so many months.

I need to cover the beds with new compost to bring the levels up but for now I hoed and raked and generally tidied up the higher bed. It current has garlic growing (the one over wintering thing that has seemed to have worked so far). This week I will put in at least one row of onion sets with the children.

Cold but sunny, the sun made all the difference.