IN THE GARDEN

Get the spuds in as soon as you can this year. My good friend Lynda Hallinan says that it’s a good idea to have all your potatoes grown by January to avoid risking the tomato/ potato psyllid attacking them. I’ve just planted three rows of potatoes in my wildflower field so that I have plenty for everyone and it really is quite simple. Dig a nice deep trench, sprinkle some potato fertiliser − or grab some seaweed − and put them in the bottom. Make sure your potatoes are bought from a garden centre to avoid any disease, plant about 5cm apart and cover over with dirt. If you’re wanting potatoes for Christmas dinner, plant early varieties like Jersey Bennes or Rocket and do be aware that some potatoes don’t flower – so don’t worry if they grow lots of leaves and then turn yellow and die. You will still have lovely spuds underneath.