End of April Update: Radio Silence, Rhubarb & An 82p Gooseberry Bush

​If you are wondering why the blog went totally quiet for a few weeks, let me introduce you to the reality of the After-Hours Allotment.

​Between a family birthday and an absolutely insane month at work, April proved exactly why I talk about "gardening in the margins." When you are balancing a 9-5 and actual family commitments, finding the daylight to sow seeds—let alone write about them—becomes an extreme sport.

​But we are back. And despite the radio silence, the plot has actually been delivering the goods.

​1. The Half-Kilo Victory

​Here is the biggest win of the month: as we close out April, my 2026 harvest total is currently sitting exactly half a kilo ahead of where I was at this time last year.

​The absolute heavy lifter in this achievement? The rhubarb. It has been powering through the unpredictable spring weather, demanding zero attention and offering up solid weight for the tracker.

​The greenhouse has also been doing serious work. Last night’s dinner was a brilliant reminder of why we put ourselves through the mud and the wind: a green pasta sauce made entirely from greenhouse chard, leek, purple sprouting broccoli, and parsley. Super tasty, practically free, and incredibly satisfying.

​2. Turnip Casualties & Co-op Bargains

​Down on the actual dirt, things are a bit more of a mixed bag. Those 35 turnips I smugly planted in late March? Some have already been mysteriously dug up. A classic allotment humbling.

​However, the pear tree that was looking deeply questionable earlier this year has officially survived the winter and is clinging onto life. And, in true scrappy gardening fashion, I scored a reduced gooseberry bush in the local Co-op for 82p. I’ve shoved it into a spot in the garden at home and, miraculously, it does not look dead yet. For under a quid, I will absolutely take that gamble.

​3. The May Panic: "No Gaps"

​Looking ahead, May is going to be all about simply keeping up.

​It’s the daily watering, the mad dash to get the overflowing windowsill seedlings into the ground, and the constant sowing to fill any empty spaces. My grand strategy this year is "no gaps"—trying to ensure that as soon as a crop finishes, a new seed goes in to replace it immediately.

​I definitely haven't got my timings perfectly right just yet, but that’s the goal. The Olympic sprint of the growing season has officially started.

​📊 The 2026 Harvest Tracker (Target: 100kg)

​Thanks to the heavy-lifting rhubarb and a steady stream of greens for pasta sauces, we are steadily climbing. Beating last year's April total by 500g is a massive morale boost heading into the summer months!

• ​Current 2026 Total: 3.215kg
• ​Remaining to Target: 96.785kg