IN ALL HONESTY, I would rather sow seeds than prepare the bed to sow them in. Even reading the seed catalogues and planning the crops I would like to grow is preferable to weeding a neglected patch of garden.

There are simply some jobs that are just more appealing than others, however, when it comes to clipping and tidying hedgerows there is a good excuse for not being so diligent.

Hedging Bets

A study carried out by the Countryside Survey partnership looked into the impact of land use. In a nutshell it found that those areas where land management is left largely unchanged and therefore soil fertility is not increased - for example chalk grasslands, hedgerows and road verges - the number of nectar-rich species for bumblebees to feed on is high and in some cases is actually rising www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk. Good news for the hedgerows here.

No doubt my mixed natural hedging would offend the eye of a formal Head Gardener, but no matter; the birds and the bees will be happy.

Ivy clad trees are another good source of nectar for bees, which is music to my ears as the north side of the plot is lined with trees that have succumbed to ivy. I will no longer waste time thinking about the damage to the host trees and think of the life-giving properties of the ivy instead.

Mad as March Hares

It's March and time has run out for avoiding the less desirable jobs; it's time to get out there and get on with them.

The days are getting longer, and the ground is warming up. Moorhens usually arrive and begin to build nests on the island in the middle of the pond around this time of the year.

Rabbits also start to bounce through the garden too. Last year they didn't present a problem in the kitchen garden. This year, however, along with the pigeons they could become a problem as 2011 is the year of the allotment here at Damson Cottage. It is time for BIG growing.

Gardening by Numbers

When I refer to my wartime-penned 'little green book' of growing instructions, I can see how my efforts so far don't measure up.

The numbers of crops recommended for a family to be self-sufficient in vegetables for a year is vast. You will remember that it is recommended that 252 onions will be used.

Let me give you some more examples; summer cabbages, 56; summer cauliflowers, 56; early savoys, 56; late savoys, 56; brussel sprouts, 63; cauliflowers, 28; broccoli, 28; kale, 28 plants.

You get the picture; is it possible for a family to eat so many vegetables?

Well, these numbers were based on the nutritional guidelines for the nation at the time, and they don't allow for any supplementary buying from the shops.

It seems to me that the 'little green book' is as good a place as any to begin my plans for this year.

With the allotment still under development, I am not sure that we will achieve such high numbers of crops this year, but we'll give it a go.

The growing of so much produce is a challenge itself, but storage will be a real challenge too. Preserving, bottling and such like has a part to play, but the biggest challenge will be to store cabbages, potatoes and so on which need somewhere that will prove pest free, cool, and secure.

If we are to be successful, as we prepare the beds and plant them, the storage solutions need to be addressed. Here at Damson Cottage we have some unused brick dog kennels.

For me the dark, uninviting building has been a 'no-go' zone. Located on the north side of the plot and unused for many years they are not the most inviting part of the garden. However, the building does offer a possible solution for creating cool, secure storage. I can see that I will need to be brave and prepare to face my demons!

Sow Exciting

March is the month for sowing seeds outside so, if the ground is warm enough, this is really the official start of the growing calendar and time to really get going. Lettuce, radish, salad onions, peas, beans, spinach, beetroot, these are all crops that can be sown into small spaces in the garden. If you have any bare patches in a border, try filling them with patches of spinach or chard. They can be cut as baby leaves for salads or left to grow into bigger plants that will add a decorative look to the border, and can be cut and cooked for dinner.

Fruity Thoughts

In addition, why not try growing your favourite fruit this year? Britain is one of the best places on earth to grow apples and yet orchards are disappearing all the time, something like a third in a decade had been removed.

Cherries were a West Country delicacy and are a favourite fruit with everyone. Expensive to buy, but with trees to suit all situations they are a great option for gardens. Smaller varieties have been developed to grow in large containers and others will happily grow in Lincolnshire back gardens.

March is the last month to plant a fruit tree this year, so why not choose one that is suitable for your garden.

The Big Dig

Sunday 20th March is the first day of spring, the Equinox. The sun rises due East and sets due West, and so the hope is we can all begin working outside on this date.

The website www.thegreatbigearthdig.co.uk asks us to 'Get out of bed and join in the great big earth dig'; prepare a bed, create a planter for the patio, fill a sack for some spuds... whatever you can manage.

You will be working on your growing project, like so many others, for the first time. I would love to see 'first time growers' here in Lincolnshire adding their names to the list, so check out the website and make 2011 the year that you grow your first tomato or lettuce or bean or potato...!