Urban Fox: Snowdrops signal spring is on the way

Snowdrops have suddenly appeared in small clusters around the allotment site, leading the way ahead of the daffodils, hyacinths and tulips which too are beginning to show, signalling that spring really is on the way.Read

Urban Fox: Frost resistant plants are flourishing

A clear sunny day is enough to melt away a light frost but the droplets on a small, broken chandelier, suspended from a branch on a neighbour’s plot, remain looking much like icicles glistening in the winter sunlight.Read

Urban Fox: Wildlife pays me a winter visit

A sparkling layer of frost brightens up the allotment site in these sub-zero temperatures, especially on a sunny and cloudless winter’s day. Read

Urban Fox: Awaiting the green shoots of spring...

THERE has certainly now been plenty of rainfall following a dry early autumn and the water level on my plot has risen sharply,as tends to happen every year.Read

Urban Fox: Plants benefit from warm autumn

Once the first frosts had arrived the sudden collapse of the squash and nasturtium plants looked particularly catastrophic this autumn since they were sprawled over fairly large sections of the plot. Read

Urban fox: September sun has kept summer alive

THE allotment has kept its lively shades of green this warm and sunny September, although the leaves are now beginning to turn.Read

Urban Fox: Even the butterflies are lazier now

Allotment life becomes increasingly mellow as summer progresses and the plants need little care now that they are fully grown and busy producing vegetables and fruit. Read

Now's the time to start harvesting

June has been a good month at the allotment and the favourable weather has lead to a burgeoning of fresh green foliage, the like of which we have not seen for the past two years. Read

Urban Fox: Heed advice from other plotholders

A bonus to gardening on the allotment is the knowledge and advice given from other plotholders who are old hands at cultivation, in addition to the plant swapping that takes place at this time of year once the seedlings become large enough to be planted out. Read

Lily of the Valley

Urban Fox: My windowsill resembles a mini nursery

This is a very busy time for planting and my windowsill is now looking like a miniature nursery, with an array of pots bunched up together in the small space behind the window boxes. Read

The daffodils are now in full bloom, adding their radiant colour and shoots from other bulbs are starting to appear here and there.

Urban Fox: Daffodils are in bloom

As the weather warms up and plants start to grow, refreshing shades of green begin to predominate again at the allotment site. Read

Urban Fox: Planning for spring

A brief visit to the allotment in biting winds displayed little change since my last visit although the daffodils are now showing a few inches above the ground. Read

Urban Fox: Creatures unmasked

All was peaceful under a clear blue sky and the pond was slumbering beneath a thick layer of ice...Read

Urban Fox: Red Mason Bees

The lively activity of the past months has come to a standstill now that winter has truly arrived Read

Urban Fox: Wintry beginnings

The lively activity of the past months has come to a standstill now that winter has truly arrived but, amongst the bare branches, a rambling rose bush is still producing bunches of elegant white blooms that have not yet been affected by the cold weather and frosts.Read

Urban Fox: Magnificent display of nasturtiums

I had predicted the finale of the nasturtiums to be especially dramatic this year since they had grown in such profusion at one end of my plot.Read

Urban Fox: Preparing for winter

Bramble picking season is one of the signals of our shift into autumn and we are fortunate to have blackberries rambling through the hedgerows surrounding the allotment site. Read

Urban Fox: Blight attacks

This year I grew a range of unknown varieties of tomato plants ...Read

Urban Fox: Attack of the wasp spider

It was whilst clearing a little ground around the base of the blackberry that I noticed a very large spider that I had never seen before. Read

Urban Fox: Attack of the wasp spider

It was whilst clearing a little ground around the base of the blackberry that I noticed a very large spider that I had never seen before. Read

flowers

Join our gardening forum

Ask Urban Fox questions about her garden, share your tried and tested tips or simply chat about all things flora and fauna in the Secret Garden forum... Read

Picture gallery

flowers

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Pictures of the beautiful blooms and unusual displays on show at the palace that ran until July 13 Read

Quick Links

More news

Community Websites

Contact & Subscribe

Contact Us

View a full list of our editorial contact details plus advertising and subscription information. Read

Get Involved

We want your local stories, videos & pics.