Heated debate over garlic - Michael Wale looks at the politics involved in running an inner city allotment
	WITH the new season now here, this past winter has certainly not been a dead period. The discussions, the polite "allotment speak" for arguments, have in some cases reached a crescendo covering subjects as diverse as the method employed to choose new plotholders to which sort of garlic to plant.

	A top ten veg with gardeners - Colin Randel reveals a couple of myths associated with cultivation of parsnips
	PARSNIPS are a favourite vegetable of gardeners and allotment-holders and have remained consistently in the Top 10 for seed sales, even though they take up ground for a considerable number of months.

	Seasonal tasks in the veg garden - Bill Hudson says that in May there are too many jobs, too few hours in the day!
	THIS is probably the busiest time in the gardening calendar. There are not enough hours in the day; everything is growing before your very eyes including weeds.

	Going compost crazy! - Lucy Halliday explains how to start composting in your organic kitchen garden
	GOOD compost is like gardening gold and the heart of any organic garden should be its compost heap.
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	Reaping what you sow - Lucy Halliday gives advice for beginner kitchen gardeners on growing from seed
	NOW'S the time of year to shake off those winter blues and indulge in a bit of true horticultural therapy. There can be few things more satisfying than raising your own plants from seed, so with spring in the air it's time to really get the kitchen garden started by sowing some tiny miracles and watching them grow!

Harvesting and preparing - Bill Hudson continues his advice on seasonal tasks in the vegetable and fruit garden

January Cold January is a quiet time in the vegetable and fruit garden, but there is harvesting and preparation for the new year to be done. Some winter vegetables should continue to be harvested namely Brussel sprouts, leeks, swedes, parsnips and turnips. Parsnips are particularly hardy but other root crops should either be protected by covering up with straw or garden compost. Root vegetables can be stored in a shed or used fresh in the kitchen.