Tips from Cheltenham

We're enjoying a long weekend in lovely Cheltenham, in a gorgeous apartment in an Edwardian house rented out by the owners who live in the main house. It's like staying at your friends house, it's great. There are books everywhere and among them I found this beauty, 'allotment gardening', so I have been reading up.

Something we didn't know about was earthing up round your leeks. This is essential to blanch the stems. It might be too late for ours but we are going to start doing it. We know for next time.

Also read up on planting garlic. Garlic bulbs are available to buy from the allotment shop now so we will be planting them out soon. We were going to manure the soil but having read this we've found out not to and that they like quite sandy, free draining soil.

So much to learn.