Today I have been cutting back brambles ready to dig them out and clear the next patch. Also sowed some sunflower seeds in a couple of bare patches of earth in the hope that they will hold back the emerging weeds, and if they do not then at least I can recognise the sunflower seedlings from the weeds when I weed that patch, in some places I sown them in rows so that I can use the hoe there and in other areas I just scattered the seeds. They will hopefully act as a makeshift green manure until I decided which seeds to order for that job.

Pleased that I had a reply on here about the potatoes and the slimey bit is just where the seed potato was, nice to know.

I went to the allotment early, thinking about my dad; the allotment helps but it cannot work miracles and neither could I. So, I tackled the brambles with a vengence because I do not want my plot to turn into the tangle that the unoccupied plot next door is. I cannot take that plot over as the battle to rescue my allotment may take years rather than months at the rate I am progressing.

I have n't a clue what to do with the dried cut up brambles and dried grass that I have raked up while clearing. I cannot burn it as I have dried grass and brambles on three sides of my plot; and I do not have one of the metal dustbin things people use as burners. Think although I try not to contribute to the landfill problem we may have to take it to the tip at some point.