The garden is quieting down, but don't hang up your gloves just yet! Late November and early December is arguably the most crucial time of year for serious gardeners. Why? Because while the soil is resting, the smart gardener is planning.

Instead of letting your plot go completely dormant, now is the time to leverage that quiet period for strategic planning that will pay massive dividends in a healthier, more productive garden next season.

Every seasoned gardener knows the true wealth of a garden lies not just in the rich harvest, but deep within the soil. We chase after compost, manure, and mineral supplements, yet often overlook one of nature’s most effective, simple, and free soil amendments: leafmold.

The first hard frost has arrived, and the allotment gates creak in the winter wind. Most have hung up their forks, dreaming of spring. But the savvy gardener knows a secret: winter isn't the end; it's the beginning.

The quiet, cold months are a 'secret season' for your plot. This is when the real groundwork is laid. Neglect it now, and you'll be playing catch-up in March. Embrace it, and you'll be harvesting while others are still weeding.

Forget a barren wasteland; picture a sleeping giant. Here are the top 5 ways to maintain your allotment over winter, transforming it into a powerhouse for the year ahead.

As the vibrant colours of autumn begin to fade and the nights draw in, a chill descends upon our gardens. For many enthusiastic growers, the threat of frost can feel like a cruel blow, jeopardising weeks or even months of careful cultivation. But fear not! Protecting your precious plants from the icy grip of frost is entirely achievable with a few clever strategies. Here are the top five ways to give your crops the best frost protection, ensuring a longer harvest and a healthier garden.

As the golden light of September bathes the garden, there's a natural inclination to think about tidying up and winding down. The frantic growth of summer is over, and the first hints of autumn are in the air. But in the world of permaculture, this is not an ending; it’s a moment of incredible opportunity. This is the perfect time for propagation, the practice of creating new plants from existing ones, embodying the core permaculture principle of working with nature to create abundance.