Last weekend was the beginning of the better weather for the UK, so I was out in the garden giving the vegetable plot a spring clean and my husband was clearing out our shed so we have a bit of room for my new potting bench from Aldi (bought last year) so we can sow our seeds in March.

My strawberries planted last year needed their brown and dead leaves cutting off. I also cut old flowers off so the plants so they can concentrate on new growth for the coming year.

My Kale has bolted (started flowering) in the sudden change in temperature from freezing to mild heat so I harvested the leaves and pulled out the plants. These 8 plants have served us well over the winter.

It’s always a problem when some of your plants bolt at the same time, it means you get an abundance of that vegetable and have to find some way of using it quickly.

I am quite happy we have an abundance of Kale because I have been keen to try kale crisps in the oven in a recipe from Riverford Organic. If you follow them on their Facebook page, they have great videos to help with ideas on how to cook your vegetables. Try the kale crisps recipes here.

The Cauliflower romanesco plants were all pulled out of the ground too as the snow had finished off these plants.

Here’s what my plot looks like after my spring clean:

We are currently growing:

• Onions – Autumn Champion (Planted in November)
• Garlic – Germidor (Planted in December)
• Leeks – Musselburgh
• Onions and Garlic will be ready for harvest in June/July.
• Leeks – Ready for harvest in March/April

I can’t wait to get seed sowing in March! and see my vegetable plot packed again by the Summer. Follow my blog to keep up to date on my latest sowings.