For some reason talking to the blackbird that visits my allotment does not seem too crazy, but now that I've started speaking to the potatoes, plums and peas I am a bit concerned. Because of the overgrown nature of the uncleared/un-nurtured part of my plot I cannot always see if people are walking past it on the path ( I cleared the middle section first and planted that area up). Not only must I appear crazy to take on this tangled jungle of brambles and weeds now they can hear me talking to myself or worse to the vegetables.

The thing that sparks these one way conversations is when I arrive at my plot and I am assesing what needs to be done and I spot a cluster of peas that have appeared since my last visit. Or when I am digging my hands into the earth around my first early potatoes and I unearth a splendid example of a Pentalnd Javelin. I will definitely grow this one again they are my idea of what potatoes used to be like; and if I manage to dig them out without damage they are almost beautiful (if a potato can be). They hve a lovely smooth pale skin, usually blemish free, and a creamy white 'flesh' which does not turn floury when cooked. I have boiled them for salads and roasted them and they are equally good.

One thing I have learnt for the future is to label things when you plant them up on the allotment; as in do not mix varieties of peas on the same cane 'wigwam'. I am never sure which peas are sugar snap and need picking quickly and which are Kelvedon Wonder and Little Marvel and need to be left to plump up.

It is all a learning curve for me; hard work but I am enjoying the challenge and I look forward to my visits and always feel calm and happy with the birds singing and my plants growing.