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Secretary's Scribblings...
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First of all, a Very Happy New Year to you all 🥳.
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Welcome to January, arriving on a wave of icy mornings, frozen taps and allotment paths best tackled with caution and a sturdy pair of boots ❄️🥶. The cold has well and truly dug in, reminding us that winter still has a firm grip on the plots.
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It’s the month where the allotment rests, the soil sulks, and we all suddenly become experts in weather forecasts 🌧️📱. The festive decorations are barely down, the mince pies are still lurking in the cupboard 🥧, and already the plots are reminding us who’s really in charge.
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January on the allotment is less about digging and more about planning, pondering and peering suspiciously at seed catalogues 🌱📖 while telling ourselves it’s far too early. The sheds get tidied (briefly), tools are reorganised (again) 🛠️, and conversations turn to what might work this year, based largely on what definitely didn’t last year.
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So, wrap up warm 🧣, mind the icy paths, and enjoy this brief calm before the growing season chaos begins 🌱❄️
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Our AGM will take place at the Vernon Arms, Locko Road, Spondon,
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on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, commencing at 7 pm.
All members are welcome.
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The minutes & agenda can be found on our website under Notices
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Jobs for January on the Allotment 🌱❄️
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January might feel like the quietest month on the plot, but there’s plenty to keep us busy (and out of mischief)! The days are short, the soil is cold, and the frost is testing our patience, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a head start on the year ahead.
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Here’s what to tackle this month:
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- Plan your plots - Now’s the perfect time to take stock of last year, make notes, and plot your strategy for 2026. Which crops did well, which didn’t, and who keeps mysteriously leaving rogue weeds?
- Protect overwintering crops - Keep an eye on brassicas, leeks, and other hardy vegetables. A bit of fleece or cloche can make all the difference when the frost bites.
- Prune fruit bushes and trees - Dormant fruit trees and bushes love a trim now. Remove dead wood, thin out branches, and shape them for a productive year ahead.
- Check and maintain tools - Clean, sharpen, and oil those spades, forks, and secateurs. It’s much nicer to start the growing season with tools that work, rather than wrestling with rusty ones.
- Feed the wildlife - Hares, birds, and even the odd fox appreciate a little extra help in winter. Keep feeders topped up and ponds ice-free where possible.
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And of course, don’t forget the most important January task: warming up with a hot drink and swapping stories with fellow plot-holders. After all, gardening is as much about the banter as the brassicas!
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Your Horticultural Problems Addressed
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Dear Aunty Lotty,
January has arrived and so have the leftovers! I’ve got leeks and parsnips refusing to rot, half a Stilton that won’t go away, and the last of the Christmas ham. Is there one decent meal that can use the lot before I crack?
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Ah, January, the month when the allotment keeps giving, and Christmas refuses to leave. If you’ve got leeks stacking up like fence posts, parsnips rolling out of the shed, and bits of festive cheese or ham lurking in the fridge, then my answer is simple: make a proper winter bake.
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✨ Aunty Lottie’s Leek & Parsnip Gratin (with Christmas Extras)✨
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- 3 - 4 leeks, sliced and washed well
- 3 parsnips, thinly sliced
- A knob of butter
- A splash of milk or cream (or that lonely carton from Christmas)
- Leftover cheese – Stilton, Cheddar, Brie, odd ends all welcome
- Optional: chopped cooked ham or turkey
- Breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
- Salt, pepper, and a little mustard or nutmeg if you’re feeling fancy
- Gently cook the leeks and parsnips in butter until just soft.
- Stir in the ham or turkey if using.
- Tip everything into an oven dish, pour over the milk or cream, and season well.
- Scatter cheese generously on top, followed by breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 180°C until bubbling and golden (about 30 - 40 minutes).
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Serve it with greens, or eat it straight from the dish standing at the counter – I won’t tell.
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No meat? Leave it out.
No cream? Milk works.
No breadcrumbs? Crushed crisps from the festive tin are surprisingly good.
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January is not the month for perfection – it’s the month for using things up and staying warm. And if all else fails, there’s always soup… but let’s pretend this is more exciting.
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Warm wishes,
Aunty Lottie 🌱
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German allotments - Schrebergarten or Kleingarten are small, rented plots on city outskirts, featuring a mix of productive veggies/fruit and quirky relaxation spots with sheds, gnomes and kitschy decorations, forming colorful "colonies" offering urbanites a green escape and taste of nature, though permanent residency is forbidden.
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"Not a lot of people know that!"
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I've been stealing garden ornaments from my next-door neighbour...
"Who shall remain Gnomeless"
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What do you call a gardener who has a beard?
"Hairy Potter"
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What do you call a bee that is hard to understand?
"A mumble bee. "
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What do you call a French baker’s favourite flower?
"Croissanthemum."
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"Lettuce in, it's cold out here!"
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Right then, that’s my cue to go and wrestle the Christmas tree back into its box 🎄💪😆😁
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