Some of the biggest allotment plot mistakes you can make are actually easily avoided. Of course, everyone makes mistakes, it’s a part of learning. Gardens can be pretty forgiving of our mistakes (plants, not so much, but gardens as a whole are usually ok with them!) Allotment plots are great places to grow food and flowers on and offer a peaceful sanctuary in an otherwise pretty hectic world. But mistakes can often cause more stress than necessary. If your allotment plot often feels like a disaster and seems to be more worry than feels worth it, maybe this article is for you! So what are the b ..read more

Better late than never, here’s the next instalment of my new allotment plot! The first couple of months were spent clearing the space, digging and generally getting some kind of control over it all! I have been slightly more adventurous with the layout with this plot, whilst being careful to make it flow with my original plot next door. With my first plot I settled on one large pathway right through the middle of the space and then had the beds all coming off of it at right angels. It’s practical and works well, but I do find I get a little bored of it! So I’ve tried to make the pathways a li ..read more

What is the best time to start a new allotment plot? Some might argue there is no “best time”. It’s just whenever you manage to get to the top of that elusive waiting list and get hold of those magic keys! And yes, that is probably the best time to start a new allotment plot. But is there a certain time of the year that is best? What challenges does starting an allotment plot at different times of the year create? And how can you get the best out of your new plot as quickly as possible? When is the best time to start a new allotment plot? Autumn is probably the peak time to start a new allotme ..read more

At this time of year, when the crops and flowers are far and few between and the weather is getting colder and darker, wildlife begins to struggle. There are so many birds looking for a good meal and it’s so easy, as gardeners, to provide that for them. I like to use natural things to feed the birds with. Not only does it look good in my winter garden, it’s also quite a fun little activity to do, particularly if you have kids! One of my favourite ways to do this is to cut an orange in half, scoop out the middle and fill with bird seed. Sometimes I hand these up but sometimes, I just place the ..read more

At the beginning of September I got my hands on a second allotment plot at my site. It’s a massive space, totally overgrown and right next to my original plot. The main reason I wanted to take on extra space was because over the last year I feel I’ve just run out of space to do all the things I want to on my plot. But also, I was starting to get annoyed with the jungle next door constantly encroaching onto my plot! Taking on a new allotment plot is always a challenge. Usually, but not always, they are pretty overgrown and require a lot of work to get into a useable space. My new plot was no ex ..read more

Every year I grow a beautiful pumpkin archway at my allotment plot. It’s one fo the highlights of my growing year and I get so excited when the mini pumpkins start to grow, hanging down like Christmas ornaments. They are so easy to grow and you get so many from just one plant. I tend to stick to Jack be Little pumpkins and Baby Boo’s as these are the varieties that tend to grow the best for me. They are small varieties of pumpkin which means they can be supported by the archway without bringing the whole thing down! Growing pumpkins vertically or over an archway has many benefits. Not only do ..read more

My first Autumn on the plot was drawing to an end. The large tree overlooking my garden had finally shaken the last of it’s leaves from the branches, much like a dog shaking water from his fur after a dip in the river. I had collected the leaves into small piles and bagged them up to make a leaf mould which would soon replenish my raised beds with rich nutrients. The circle of life, forever turning. Not all of my tomatoes had turned red, but it was too late for them to try now. Time had run out for warm loving crops and it was time to cut my losses and retire them from their long summers work ..read more

How can you avoid allotment burnout? Is allotment burnout even I real thing?! Well yes, it really is. Every single year I see the same thing. New allotment holders turning up at their plots in early spring and putting everything they have into it! They spend hours weeding, putting in raised beds, building sheds and poly tunnels. In the space of a couple of weeks their plots are pristine and beautiful. Then, along comes the springtime. A few crops go in, but all of a sudden they stop showing up as much. The weeds take hold and the plot begins to return to its original state. Maybe the show up a ..read more

This is my fourth year on the allotment plot and I’ve realised that there is always more to learn about growing your own food. By the end of the growing year I always feel good, like I’ve not only grown some amazing crops but I’ve also grown as a gardener. However, as soon as Spring comes around again, I’m back to feeling like an absolute beginner! There are so many lessons to be learnt in the garden. Some of them are practical lessons, some of them more philosophical. Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned from the allotment this year: 5 LESSONS I’VE LEARNED FROM THE ALLOTMENT Early protection is k ..read more

Long time no see! I’m back on the blogging after a little bit of a break. Spring and Summer is always my busiest time for work and this year has been pretty crazy! You might have seen some of my articles in Kitchen Garden magazine, or bought one of my t-shirts or perhaps you’ve been watching my TikToks. Or maybe you haven’t seen any of what I’ve been up to… but that’s where I’ve been. The allotment plot has thrived this year. I think the weather has played a big part in that with the warmer spring keeping slugs and snails away and now the wet summer helping all the crops to have a growth spur ..read more