The end of February seems like the end of a prologue. The real story gets started next month, but by then it's difficult to change the outcome.

.

I've been focussing heavily on planting fruit this winter and most of the trees are in. I'm struggling with soil preparation for a couple of walnut trees at present. All I have to do is clear an area of 25 square feet for each tree - but when the appointed places are infested with brambles and bindweed it becomes a nightmare. One can go in tomorrow, though, and in a root control bag too... I'm hoping this will force a crop before I'm eighty and maybe keep any remnants of bindweed out of the root system. Last week I planted eighteen raspberry canes with all the attendant posts.

.

Elsewhere in the allotments I've planted about 100 shallots. In my continuing quest to abolish maincrop onions shallots are good allies. They taste great, store better and, unlike those redundant onion sets, they divide. The other plus is that you can get busy with them in February, filling beds and time when there isn't so much else to do. I also planted a couple of rows of peas (Meteor) which had been started off in loo rolls. I've never had much joy with early peas but this variety looks strong...

.

Most of that long list of seeds to sow in February are now sown. I even managed to remember to get the Alexanders and bulbous Chervil seeds out of the fridge and sow them too. Despite their negligible culinary attributes I'll be overjoyed if I can get either of these to harvest.

.

I planted a few first early potatoes into plastic sacks this morning to see if I can get an earlier plateful this year. As the kale goes to flower any harvest before May is worth a shot. At present, apart from the kale, I have a few winter lettuces, lots of bunching onions, chard, american cress, wild rocket, mibuna, leaf celery, chicory, endive, jerusalem artichokes, Brussel sprouts, rosemary, French tarragon, bay, winter savory, garlic out of store...and that's it. My perennial brocolli is in full production but is tough and unappetising, and the real thing is looking mouldy and unpromising after the mild winter.

.

Roll on summer.