Although progress on the allotment has been slow - ridding the beds of plastic matting, couch grass, bindweed and getting organic matter into the soil is never going to be an overnight job - there are other areas where I have made progress.

In September we installed a polytunnel, which is something I have wanted for a long time. Although the site is surrounded by a big hedge, it can still be quite windy so the polytunnel is buried quite deep. It won't be blowing away over winter.

Buried deep and not going anywhere

Priorities... first thing in the tunnel was some seating

I have already learnt that having a polytunnel isn't all that it is cracked up to be. I sowed a lot of hardy annuals in September and thought they would cruise through the winter. But there are more slugs in the tunnel than I had expected so some of my seedlings were eaten. 

I wanted a polytunnel in part so that I could store all my tender perennials (pelargoniums etc) over winter. Despite the fact that we have had a very mild winter, we had one very cold night in November which froze everything in the polytunnel. I think the pelargoniums are done for.

The plot is very sunny so I won't be using the polytunnel much in the summer I don't think. It will get too hot in there and I don't want to leave the doors open - the badgers will get in and wreck everything. It will be more for spring/autumn sowing and over-wintering stuff.

My autumn-sown sweet peas are doing well so far. I'm looking forward to sowing more in the spring so that I can have an extended season this year.