I have an allotment - 19 euro a year for a quarter-acre. At least, I've gone in on it, so I suppose my half would be 9 euro 50 cent.

I've been allotting for a few weeks, but can give some tips:

* Don't grow anything poisonous. I wouldn't grow datura, monkshood, delphinium or any bulb other than onions, shallotts and garlic.

* Build two six-foot-by-six compost heaps side by side.

* Strim the weeds, put them on the compost heap; cover the allottment in black plastic held down with bags of manure, and gradually lift up the plastic bit by bit to manure pieces.

* This autumn, plant two lots of raspberries against the fences: autumn raspberries which you can eat from next year's canes, and spring raspberries, which you will eat in 2005, as they flower on the previous year's canes.

* Wherever your water supply is, there plant your salads. You really don't want to haul water up to the other end of the field.

* Next year, put in lots of vigorous spuds, to smother the surviving weeds. Only leave a relatively small area (near the water supply) to grow your beans, peas, salads, tomatoes, courgettes, etc.

* Grow some herbs. I know it's not sensible to have them on an allotment, but really they'll keep fresh enough if you cut a load each week. And they're gorgeous.

* Grow rhubarb. Even if you don't eat much, it's always a welcome present.

* Grow some comfrey. The leaves, steeped in water (covered - it stinks) make a great fertiliser for watering in; the roots, simmered slowly on a double boiler in oil and then the oil strained off to be mixed with beeswax, make a great ointment for a sore back. You don't have a sore back? Come back after you've been weeding and it's got away with you.

* Ask advice of the neighbouring allotment-holders, especially people from other cultures - they'll have interesting vegetables that you can swap.