Mandy Sutter, Writer

It’s the day after Valentine’s, and the long-stemmed red roses that were £1.99 at the greengrocer’s yesterday are now reduced to 49p. He has a lot left.

I’m a regular visitor these days and notice such things. Down at the allotment, you see, all the plants (except the weeds) have now either been withered by the frost, drowned by the flood, or eaten by creatures with various numbers of legs. Everything in the vegetable compartment of the Reluctant Gardener’s fridge today, therefore, has come from the greengrocer’s.

Back in June, when my 87-year-old Dad got his allotment, we were already at the fag end of the growing season. By the time letters about cutting down trees had been sent and answered; by the time the shed was up and customised with little shelves and toolracks, it was even later. Neighbouring newbie allotmenteers [...]