February week 2: north/south sophistication

Even Mr Middleton admits February isn't the best month for gardeners. Not to be put off he issues clear instructions on 'How to use bad weather'.

Mr Middleton says: February is noted for its wetness. If it lives up to its reputation (it is!), work in the garden is at a standstill. Much can be done...

I'm convinced the February instructions included tidying the shed. Re-reading the first couple of weeks I can't find this anywhere. Must just be guilt. Probably Mr Middleton didn't let his shed get into the state mine does. Often a quick allotment dash to grab some food or take compost ends up with a downpour and various things being slung in the shed to sort another time.

So I have spent the time on general tidying.

One thing I really admire Mr Middleton for is his insistence on regionalism. His instructions don't only mention the north/south English divide but he even mentions the often ignored midlands. At a time when resources were really limited sowing too early in the north would have mattered.

It's often the problem with 'what to do this week' gardening features on TV or radio that don't mention this difference. In Dig On it's acknowledged that first sowings in the north are likely to be a few weeks behind the south.

This makes sense as whilst I'm grateful it's warmed up to six degrees here today parts of the south are already basking in twelve. I've found sowing at the later end of the seed packet date stops me scowling at the lack of germination.

Because of this Mr Middleton's also got me using the coldframe properly. The most action it saw last year was storing a few plant pots and growing some weeds.

All this rain has given me a chance to go searching for Dig for Victory footage. Now watch this and tell me digging techniques can't be inspirational!

January/February Week 4: Cold, wet but never miserable

I've never understood the appeal of 'no dig' gardening. Digging's the best bit. Mr Middleton clearly agrees as he's been pleading for digging since the first week of January.

In Week 3 of January he thought I'd be nearing FINISHING the dig and suggested I had a good clean up too. At least today saw the first dig of the year. Too wet really judging by the mud to shoes ratio but in the end it's got to be better to be outdoors than in!

I was heartened to see Carol Klein salvage some chard as she climbed over the top of her compost bin the other Friday. Her announcement she'd be taking it in to cook up for tea was one of the rare glimpses of authentic gardening on the TV. The joy of being outside looking at what's happening is why it might be cold and wet but it's never miserable.


Mr Middleton takes a formal tone on potato examining. This did at least lead me to remember to put them in egg boxes. I know chitting's out of fashion at the moment with people questioning the benefit. One thing I know from experience though, is if left in netting bags for too long you have to snap all the growth off to get them out. Why annoy them before they go in the ground? Egg boxes it is.

No, before you ask I do not have a shed
with net curtains. It's my house.

One of the main benefits of Digging On is that it announces seed planting. I've caught up with the winter lettuces and started on some other suggested seed sowing and there's signs of life.

Mr Middleton says: Take digging easy at first, or you may get blisters and lumbago and call the spade anything but a spade.

So at the moment I'm keeping up.