1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

So much to do…but I must remember to have fun along the way!

There’s no better feeling than ticking something off my allotment to-do list. Done. Finished. Completed.

In day to day life, I’m constantly writing lists.  I worry that I’ll forget to do or get something, so I write it down.  If I don’t, my brain gets locked into a ‘list loop’…repeating over and over.  Writing things down stops the jobs from ‘pecking my head’ and helps me keep track of things that could easily disappear when life becomes especially hectic.

Although writing, generally, is a powerful tool which helps me to organise and simplify my thoughts…even when it comes to gardening.

Reminder to myself: I garden because it is enjoyable and relaxing.

However, I often have to remind myself to stop running around like a blue-ar***d fly and flapping about the amount of work the needs to be completed!  I know that, ultimately, doing a little as often as possible, is the best way to work but that’s easier said than done.  I’m trying to focus on the important jobs first, ensuring all the jobs are achievable within my time-frame.

However time is ticking.  The signs of Spring are evident.  Daffodils, primroses and crocuses are flowering.  The growing season has begun and April is always busy month. My window sills and greenhouses are full of seedlings that need to be hardened off and planted out but I still have so many jobs to do on my allotment!

In no particular order, here are my top ten jobs on my ‘To Do List’…Errrrrm, there’s a lot of digging involved!!!

1. De-clutter the allotment greenhouse ready for tomatoes and put the second cold-frame in place.

2. Dig the front of plot 4a.

3. De-weed the top pathway.

4. Replant the strawberry patch.

5. Line new planter and plant up with the best of the strawberry plants.

6. Dig and de-weed the ex-gooseberry bed.

(There was an old gooseberry bush here but it was being strangled by bindweed and suffocated by couch grass.  I dug it up and washed the roots for replanting.)  

7. Remove grass from currant bushes and replant gooseberry bush next to them.

8. Dig over flower beds.

9. Finish digging plot 5a.

10. Dig over cardoon and comfrey bed.