I must respond to a scathing attack on my gardening knowledge and integrity. Dariel Francis claims I am wrong about “leaving spuds in the ground till February” (Letters, 6 August). I never said I would – and I reject this scandalous and deeply hurtful accusation. I said “digging ground for potatoes” in February. That means manuring and preparing the ground, before planting the potatoes in March or April. Save our potatoes – and save our allotments!
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Independent, Islington North
• May I, as a fellow allotmenteer and former parliamentary colleague of Jeremy Corbyn, defend him from the attempts to imply that his statement about “digging ground for potatoes in February” betrays an ignorance of the potato cultivation calendar? Like Jeremy, I will be digging the ground in February, but preparing the plot for the planting which, of course, takes place on Good Friday, and not lifting any of my maincrops, which will have been long scoffed or stored.
Stephen Pound
Labour MP 1997-2019; chair, Framfield Allotment Association
• Dariel Francis should have kept her eyes peeled and read the quote from Jeremy Corbyn more carefully. Like those of many current Labour voters, this attempt at discrediting Mr Corbyn is half-baked.
Dr Barbara Henderson
Spittal, Northumberland
• Jeremy Corbyn may inadvertently have stumbled on a name for his new party (Jeremy Corbyn warns rules on council asset sales threaten allotments, 5 August). The Allotment party embraces opposition to local authorities selling off public land, green issues and community involvement, with a nod to allotting tasks in a democratic way. Perfect.
Toby Wood
Peterborough
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