There was plenty of traditional spring weather on the plot today - sun, wind and rain, and the occasional spot of snow! It was quite chilly when the clouds went in, so today I mostly dug out dandelions and, when I couldn't face another yellow flower, comfrey too. There's plenty on the plot to use as organic fertiliser and there was a massive plant just in front of the new arch - so it had to go. I suspect it will have the last laugh though, as comfrey roots are very deep, and very difficult to get out.

My plans for growing Chioggia beetroot and green manure have received a temporary setback, as a mouse seems to have got into my shed and feasted on seed packets. I've blocked up the one potential access point I could spot, so hopefully that is the last visit I'll have, but I shall be keeping an eye out (and my seeds in a tin!).

Does anyone have any good tips for (vegan!) ways to discourage mice?

Thank heavens for garden sheds! No sooner had I got the new arch assembled and the new clematis and passion flower in, than the heavens opened in a proper April shower. Sitting in the shed reading (The Lonely Planet's Tales from Nowhere, if you're interested - a good read, I think, and fairly pertinent for a blustery allotment at the beginning of spring :) ) I could keep an eye on the arch to check for signs of vulnerability in the increasing wind, and stay warm and dry.  As the light began to fade I realised I had no option if I wanted to get home by bike - I was going to get wet :)

I picked Gardman's Easy Arch for the allotment - a relatively cheap experiment to see if it is reasonably neglect- and badger-resistant. I'm moderately impressed so far - the plastic coated pieces went together fairly easily, and each joint is screwed together. As ever though, the proof will be in the long gusty days exposed on the plot. To give the rather small climbing plants a rather easier start than the arch allows for, I've made a small grid of string in the first section - something for small tendrils to get hold of early on.

I'm too tired to write much today, mostly because I've spent the afternoon building a raised bed, and transplanting the asparagus that has been growing for four years into it. I'm still not 100% convinced this was a good idea - partly because the asparagus plants made it very clear they didn't want to be disturbed - but I'm going to give it some time, and see how they get on before pronouncing this either a brilliant or disastrous move. Still, it's tidied up an unruly patch of the allotment, and hopefully this will please my neighbour, who wages a continuous chemical war against his weeds, and must be constantly distressed (enraged?) by the encroachment of weeds from this vegan, semi-organic, definitely more liberal, gardener...

Brr! 9 degrees centigrade in Oxford today, and the last day before the hosepipe ban. The lack of hosepipes won't really be a problem for Plot 129 though, because there's no water on site anyway... All our water comes from wells, the Thames, or carried from home in Jerry cans. I prefer the latter, partly because I'd just worry about something falling into a well, and partly because it is simpler - collecting water from the river and dragging it across the site is easier said than done!

Today I planted three rows of broad beans (I know, I know, it's a bit late), tenderly wrapped up my newly spouted sugar snap peas in a piece of fleece, and started to prepare a new bed. The onions are making enormous progress, and the blossom on the fruit trees is beautiful. Fingers crossed for no frost, and more rain please!

The last two weeks have seen periods of frenzied activity coupled with distinct sloth on the plot. Two rows of Boltardy beetroot were planted around the last weekend in March, during a period of record high temperatures for the month. A little bit of sunbathing meant progress in other areas wasn't quite so fast, although the large numbers of bumble bees and huge numbers of ladybirds took advantage of the warm weather to hunt for nest sites and feed.

The search for a water butt continues. With the guttering in place on the shed it seems both foolish and wasteful not to have a functioning water butt, but they're proving hard to get hold of - the threatened drought seems to be causing all the local garden centres to sell out as soon as they come into stock. At the moment I'm making do with a trug, but it isn't the best solution long term. Besides, I could do with my trug back :)

The garlic and onions continue to do well, the garlic plants under the shade of the Damson trees coping much better than the more exposed plants towards the front of the plot. The Elephant garlic (which is apparently a leek, and not a garlic at all - but seems to taste as good!) also continues to thrive. Last year Plot 129 lost quite a few garlic plants in the unusually warm April, so I will be trying to keep them as well watered as possible this spring.

Further preparation has continued indoors, with Green Globe artichokes, Black Beauty Aubergine, Windsor pumpkins and some reclaimed butternut squash seeds being sown in propagators and covered pots:

Germination is expected between 5-14 days, so we'll be checking them eagerly from the middle of next week.

Whilst it may seem to be all work at the moment, a reminder of why has come in the shape and taste of the rhubarb! We're eating to save the planet just now - our rhubarb plants are growing so quickly they are threatening to take over all the ground before them...

And finally, some pictures of spring flowers and blossom on the plot :) Enjoy!

 Damson

 Plum

Fritillary (planted November 2011)