If you only had 30 minutes to spend on the plot, what would you do?

[Gillykat]

* great thread...but remember.....think ahead..it's for APRIL !!!!!

Oh in that case I think I WOULD need to keep an eye on the weeds Though hopefully by April we'll have a few permanent paths sorted with weed membrane so it won't be as big an issue as last year.

Otherwise jobs possibly the same regarding checking stuff for watering, making sure structures for peas & beans are ready etc etc.

It'll soon be here!!!

[PyreneesPlot]

It would have to a slug, pest and plant health check while making a list of what to on the next visit.
And then stand and enjoy the wildlife.

[bario1]

The first thing i do almost every time i go to the plot is add any household waste to the compost bins and give them a stir with my new-fangled compost turner. That probably takes ten minutes. Assuming we're in april, I reckon the other twenty minutes would be spent opening up the polytunnel doors, watering anything that needs it in there, propping open the packed cold frame according to the weather that day, watering whatever is in there of course, having a quick reccy to check on progress around the plot generally, and then off! Half an hour isn't nearly long enough...

[Penellype]

Walk round and check everything.
Remove any pests.
Put back anything that had been disturbed.
Mulch anything that hadn't already been mulched (weed it first).

My average gardening session is about 10-15 minutes (although I may have several of those in a day) and I find mulching is the single biggest time saver, although preventing weeds from seeding is a close 2nd.

[noviceveggrower]

I would say have a quick walk about then weed and water. All depending on time of year.

[sparrow100]

For April - depends if my plot's dry enough yet to dig. Otherwise, check the greenhouse, water if needed and/or sow seeds & push the cultivator around to unsettle the weeds till the time's run out.

[bearded bloke]

Weed 'n Feed (the weeds to the chooks)

[Lisasbolt]

Watering, it's always the main job. Then pick what I want for dinner

[planetologist]

My priorities are harvest, sow, weed, pest protection, water.
Harvest: it's easy to get too caught up in the gardening and forget that the point is to have homegrown organic food. Also, on days that I work harvesting is about all I have time for, so that comes first.
Sow: same logic as above: if nothing else gets done then even fairly neglected plants do give some harvest. In April at least. Later in the year I'd say the priority is pruning the fruit, because fruit has the best produce/work ratio of the garden, provided they get my best effort at pruning.
Weed: it's the main competitor for vegetables and soft-fruit. A well weeded garden needs less watering as well.
Pest protection: in April that mostly the biennial brassicas from pigeons and the seedlings from slugs/snails.
Water: usually not a big issue in April yet, though if it's exceptionally dry then it actually moves up the priority list to second place, because there comes a point where a bit of water stress that reduces productivity turns into a proper water crisis that will kill all small seedlings (think April 2011).

[Grumpy Gardener]

Put the kettle on, a bit of weeding while it boils and then have a walk round and enjoy the moment.
The allotment is my place of relaxation and for 30 minutes I can shut off from everything and be in my own little world.
John