How to Make Sure Your Allotment Thrives
Getting your hands on an allotment is an achievement in itself. Demand has soared in the past year or so as Brits have looked for ways to spend more time outdoors and take on new projects.
But with a plot secured and your green fingers at the ready, how can you make sure your efforts come to fruition?
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as dropping a few seeds down and watching them grow. So if you’re just getting started, read our tips below to make your allotment experience as rewarding as possible.
Kit yourself out
If this is the first time you’ve owned an allotment or even really done any real gardening, you’re going to need to create a shopping list. Put a solid digging spade at the top, followed by a garden fork, a Dutch hoe, a rake, secateurs and a trowel.
You’ll want to protect your hands and feet too, so invest in a comfortable pair of gardening gloves and robust boots or wellies for digging and weeding.
Clear your plot
Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to find your allotment is ready to go straight away. You might be inheriting it from a previous owner or it could have fallen into disrepair.
Either way, you’ll need to put some groundwork in before you think about planting.
Clear the area of any unwanted materials and debris that could obstruct you or your plants. Remove weeds and test the remaining soil pH to check if it’s lacking nutrients.
Be selective about your plants
It can be tempting to plant everything that you enjoy eating or dream of growing – but it’s important to be selective. Limiting the number of different things you plant will reduce your workload and give those you do pick a little more space and attention.
Do your research on seasonality too – certain vegetables like kale and broccoli thrive in winter for example, while tomatoes and berries grow best in summer.
Plan your layout
No matter the size of the space you’re working with, it’s worth taking the time to sit down and properly think about your allotment layout. You’ll need to factor in elements such as lighting and access as well as what plants you’ll put where.
It could be useful to run your layout plans past a more experienced grower to get their ideas.
Commit to learning
Ultimately owning an allotment should be fun and rewarding, an opportunity to get stuck in, try out different ideas and learn on the go. From books to TV and events, see what you can pick up from the professionals to help you on your way.
Some plants will fail and that’s normal – just take notice of what works for you and think about what you’d do differently next time.
With a bit of knowledge and equipment and a lot of enthusiasm, your allotment is bound to be a success!
This is a collaborative post.
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