JANUARY

Plan your allotment area,
Source and chit first early potatoes,
Check damaged structures on plot,
Protect delicate plants from frost by using garden fleece covers,
Sow Broad beans seeds for early cropping,
Prune apple trees,
- pruning tips – use clean, sharp secateurs,
- carefully clean the blades before and after,
- wear gloves,
- ask a friend to help if the branches are heavy,
- look for any branches that are rubbing against one another and remove the weaker one,
- if you are in doubt – don’t do it – pruning too hard means the tree will put more energy to produce new foliage than fruit,
- step back and review to see the overall shape of the tree.
Check stored potatoes for disease or rotting,
Improve soil by adding organic material to top soil,
Sow pepper seeds for summer crop,
Plant bare root fruit trees,
Plant rhubarb crowns,
Sow aubergine seeds in heated area (window sill or heated greenhouse),
Clean pots and seed trays.