It has been a fantastic few days. Colder again with some light frost, but lovely and bright and clear. After todays sunshine, I genuinely think my leek seedlings have grown an inch. (They are in my growhouse).

I have done a lot in the last while. I put in a few broad bean seedlings that I had started in the growhouse. I have put some plastic boxes over them as cloches.

Today I popped in a few broad bean seeds, also under a plastic box cloche that has been warming the soil for two weeks.

I also made some beer traps for the slugs. They really do work. Simply sink a plastic cup in the earth so the top is level with the soil, half fill with beer. Then prop anything like a plate on a couple of stones over the top (to stop it filling with rain)... and that is it. Slug graveyard.

I put two in where I will soon be puttin my earliest peas and beans, and one in my large coldframe.

I am really pleased with the large cold frame. made it myself and it is big, strong and hopefully will shelter too. I sowed a few scallions (spring onions) in it just to see how effective it is. I noticed some weeds beginning to grow inside it, so the soil must be warming up.

The compost bin got turned over into the other side. I had more compost than I thought.

I also dug and weeded the row for the early spuds.

Also, I sat back and admired the daffodils and crocus.

I spent a good couple of hours on the plot yesterday. It was a cold but beautiful day. There was snow on the hills all around and Cavehill looked grand dressed in white.

There was some snow on the plot too. It thawed fairly quickly though.

The very first daffodil had flowered! Very early. We have avoided any long lasting cold this winter, so I think the soil is already warming up. I found a few small weed seeds germinating and some bigger ones doing ok under my black covering fabric.

So I decided to fork over a section and I will wait and see what the weather does. It would be nice to get a longer than normal growing season this year. I popped some onions I had grown in pots into the cold frame. I will give them a week or two there and stick them into their permanent bed in early March.

I also picked up a cheap clear plastic box that I amgoing to pin down as a cloche and then I will sow a few broad beans underneath in a week or so, once the soil underneath might have warmed up.

I feel that spring is almost here, but perhaps that is just wishful thinking....

Today was another rough and nasty day. In England they are having heavy snow, but here it is cold, relentless rain.

I did manage to squeeze in a little gardening, in between dropping kids to parties and all the usual household duties!

Despite the terrible weather, I can feel the gardening year gathering pace. In ancient celtic tradition, the first of February was the beginning of spring, or the beginning of the growing year. In the freezing cold and damp I found myself questioning this - but in a way it is true. I realised that this week I have really started to plan for the week ahead. I have sown a few broad beans (sutton) in pots for an early crop. I have also sown a few sweet peas in pots (love those) and dahlias from seed for the first time.

As well as all that I have put seed potatoes 'Red Duke Of York' and 'Ballydoon' (both first earlies) in trays to chit.

Today myself and my daughter dropped a few cabbages up to the cold frame to harden off a bit before planting out. My poor girl was shivering after only five minutes so that was enough plot time today!

We popped into the local garden centre too and she picked up a nice pack of Calendula (pot marigold) to sow. I love calendula - they are easy, free flowering and throw up the odd surprise bloom or two.

So, yes, maybe this really is the start of the growing year!

It has been a cold week to start December. There have been several heavy snowfalls since Sunday and more is promised this weekend. Will this be our third cold winter in a row? Only time will tell, but if the ground becomes cold at this time of year I think the winter always seems longer.

I have finished my cold frame. It is big and heavy and should last a long time. I made it with pressure treated fence boards. They were reasonably priced - the whole thing cost about £20, although I did have the clear plastic sheets from an old greenhouse that I dismantled.

It is all about planning at this time of the year. Browsing the internet, thinking about ordering unusual seeds and drawing out imaginary plots. I should post a drawing here - I usually lose them long before I get to try out a plan.

Next year, I am thinking about inter-planting my veg with a few flowers. I have seen some nice pictures of less formal veg gardens and I think it looks well. I do like nice rows too - so I wont be abandoning that completely.

I need to cover my plot now. I wanted to wait for the leaves to fall and then cover it so that the worms can work their magic under cover!