1 Keep an eagle eye open for symptoms of blight on potatoes and tomatoes and destroy any infected plants quickly (visit www.allotment.org.uk for more details). Harvest peas, beans, tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers regularly to encourage more to develop. Watch overwintered onions and garlic and lift and dry for storage as soon as you feel they are ready.

2 Prune fruited raspberry, tayberry and loganberry canes out as soon as the last fruits are harvested. Prune out one third of the older wood of blackcurrants after fruits have been picked and spur prune longer shots on gooseberries and redcurrants as you harvest the fruit. Continue to prune longer new shoots on plums to help develop fruiting spurs and suppress growth.

3To search out an available allotment for you and your family, visit www.kirklees.gov.uk and search the alphabetical lists for allotments, or contact Malcolm Peaker, Secretary of the Huddersfield Allotments and Gardens Federation, on 01484 653282.