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In the polytunnel in summer

The shortest, darkest days are over, at least theoretically. Still as any good gardener understands the work goes on, there is always something needing doing and probably several things already too late to do already. Such is gardening.

In the polytunnel with fellow GQT presenter Eric Robson (in the summer)

I find the answer is not to worry but just to do whatever seems pressing, or fun. Either will do as in both cases something is getting done, it is inaction that gets nowhere. Of course gentle days when I can work comfortably outdoors at the moment are few, any day still and bright I grab for pruning and for spotting hibernating pests such as scale insects. But now is more a time for lurking in my polythene covered tunnel, it is my own little kingdom. A glasshouse is always too small and worse...it is clear - onlookers can see what you're up to. Under translucent plastic you are well concealed, the armchair, kettle and pile of magazines can't be seen.

Of course not much time is wasted with these trifles, you see under plastic, gardening goes on all the year round. Especially as I have erected another tunnel inside the first. And within this is a bubble plastic tent sheltering my pineapples and other most tender treasures.

In the long border between the inner tunnel and the south wall of the outer one I grow hardy salads all through winter. Especially, as I'm always suggesting on GQT, Miner's Lettuce, Claytonia (). This is succulent fare, bland and not bitter, easy to grow almost anywhere all winter, everyone should have some and let it self seed. It’s seldom a problem once the weather warms up and usually disappears to come back in autumn.

I also grow loads of rocket, , , , spring onions, and herbs. Then inside the inner tunnel I have pots of new potatoes. The first couple were sown on December 21st and a couple every week after. Giving very light crops, these start so early - often before everyone else is planting theirs at Easter. They jostle for space under the lemon and other citrus trees in tubs which have come in for the winter. And the space was already full of , , , , et al. So as you can imagine my watering is fraught with difficulty as I wind between all of these. I have to be so careful as splashing water about makes the atmosphere even more humid causing mould problems. If I ventilate more it will be too hard to heat so I just try to keep the air as dry as I can, the floor is saw dusted just to absorb any drops.

Squeezed in a sunny corner is my propagator made from an old dead freezer half full of sand with a soil warming cable for heat. In here right now, I’m starting off my first tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, I know it’s still far too early, but I love it, don’t you?