Bristol Evening Post reporter Ian Onions is starting to know them by taking on an allotment for the first time - a hobby which is growing in popularity again for men and women of all ages. And his first experience on the land was a very rewarding one…

With a surname like mine, you'd think I had been close to the soil all my life.

But being a townie from birth, the only things I knew about working the earth was that it gave you backache and made your hands dirty.

So it was with some trepidation that I took on half an allotment for the first time this year after being persuaded to do so by my neighbours.

And I have to say - to my great surprise - it has been a richly-rewarding experience.

I was worried about committing myself at the outset because I feared the workload would become a millstone around my neck.

I thought that constant weeding would leave me with nothing but backache.

But how wrong I was!

True, taking on an allotment can be hard work - especially digging over your patch before the growing season.

But it's not so bad if you dig a small section at a time and don't try to do too much.

Digging can be invigorating, not a chore, if you bear in mind what the soil can produce and how healthy the exercise is for you.

Admittedly, the weeds are a pain because they grow so thick and fast. I think the key is to weed little and often before they begin to overrun.

I am such a raw beginner, I had to abandon my parsnips because I couldn't tell the difference between weeds and the leaves of the crop.

And my carrots won't win any prizes because I didn't prepare the ground properly.

There were lots of hard lumps, which prevented the carrots growing properly.

But I've had carrier bags full of runner beans and so many courgettes I've thrown some away on the compost.

In my first year, I've also grown onions, beetroot, rhubarb, raspberries, sweetcorn, sunflowers, spinach, and strawberries.

It's tremendously satisfying to sit down to a meal knowing that you have grown most of the food yourself. And it's reassuring to know that it's all fresh and 100 per cent organic.

I sank my teeth into my first own-grown sweetcorn only a few days ago and the taste was exquisite.

My modest results are spurring me to try harder next year. Above all, you can't beat the peace and tranquillity, which makes a visit to the allotment a pleasure, not a pain.

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