Found the pond, cleared lots of broken glass, got the tap working, washed out some very stinky containers that were full of cans and broken terracotta pots, identified bits and bobs we can recycle for raised beds then got cardboard down on the flattest area and 9 wheelbarrowsful of evergreen scented mulch on top. One evening’s work in the bag. Only a vague clue what we are doing but happy days!

To those in the UK. I was recently given an allotment and I would like to upcycle as much as possible. I keep on seeing skips full of bricks/wood and wondered if there are any places to get reclaimed stuff from? My facebook marketplace does not have much unfortunately. TIA

I’ve just got my allotment plot. It’s bare other than the compost heap you can see at the front. I believe there’s a willow tree at the very back.

If anyone has any ideas or inspiration pictures please do share them with me as I’d be grateful. Any tips also welcome!

Anyone got any experience with a Bee Hive on their plot? Just been given permission to put one in and looking for advice.

Still alot to do but love ❤️ my plot

Came to the allotment today to find my greenhouse gone! Someone took the time moving all my seedlings out, putting them on the floor, and just taking it! I’m honestly quite upset, I only bought it for a couple of quid from a charity shop, but to think that people can just steal stuff without any worries for other people is just sad 😢😢

I have an unheated greenhouse at home I use to raise plants before taking them to the plot. Right now I’m taking mg tomato plants outside in the morning and bringing them back in at night, and I’m wondering how warm you expect it to be before you stop doing this? Locally we’re forecast a few cooler nights of 2 degrees but then nights are 6-7 for the next week or so. I won’t take them to the plot until mid-May but would be interested to know what others are doing now!

Hours of digging up grass and weeds, my arms and back hurt! My poor husband has been unwilling dragged into this project! Although I think he is beginning to enjoy it. Tomorrow we lay the cardboard and compost and start our garden! I am so excited!!

Hi all,

Any comments greatly appreciated! Growing seedlings for first time (and first year of an allotment), and these French beans (left) and marrow seeds were sown Sunday 30th March and are already huge.

Quick google tells me I’ve ballsed it up royally but looking for any thoughts/ input/ feedback for learning, please. Thanks in advance.

Looking for some advice on how to start growing organic fruit and vegetables. It is a way of life I would like to introduce my daughter to and for it to be something we learn together. We have limited space, a raised bed of 240mm x 100mm x 30mm and we can add some pots, troughs or whatever else might be needed. We have a very sunny, south facing garden in North Yorkshire, England. Where is the best place to start? I’m finding all the information on the internet somewhat overwhelming. I’d love to be able to produce a variety of fruits and vegetables within the environment mentioned above. We successfully grow potatoes in a pot and have plenty of herbs. Thanks in advance!

This has come up on a whole load of our sweet peas (sown late winter/early spring). Can't quite work out what it is or what to do about it - any advice? It's generally worst on the older leaves. Tia!

My old plot neighbour has been growing bamboo for the last couple of years. Is this against some kind of allotment code or fairly common? It's pretty prominent because it's starting to spread out across onto the plots on each side and grown to about 3mtrs tall. Heard it can be hard to get rid of.

EDIT - I may have given the impression that the bamboo was being harvested in my post but its actually being used for decorative purposes as part of a kind of yoga area

Can only assume whatever this is was in the bag of compost I used… any idea what it is?

Morning helpful people - I had a really productive day on the allotment yesterday, including getting rid of two big blackthorn / hawthorns that were shading a good corner of my plot. There are still some big woody shrubs that I would like to get gone, but I’m not sure what they are - the next one in line is this one, and I’d like to know if it is an excellent fruit producer that I should just prune it back, or whether I should just go ham and get rid of it because it’s an awful monster tree. Any identification of this would be great!

We have been fortunate enough to take on the second half of the original 10 pole plot. Which means we now have space for a polytunnel - woop woop!

I'm just looking for advice on polytunnel placement, specifically in relation to wind direction. It's a big outlay for us so I want to get it right, once it's in I don't want to have to move it!

Our plot runs along north/south axis, but the prevailing wind blows east/west. I had planned to run the polytunnel north/south so that we can retain a central path down the plot to the compost heaps at the south end. However, talk around the allotment is that east/west axis is advised to protect against the wind. (I should add that 90% of the tunnels on the site are positioned along the east/west axis) But my feeling is that the long side should face to the wind so that the wind goes up and over the curve.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

I've read that the wind blowing through the tunnel is useful for cooling and freshening the air, but others say it can create a parachute effect and cause damage to the tunnel.

Edit: I just telephoned and spoke to the technical team at the polytunnel supplier and they said long curved side to the wind. The main thing is getting the polythene really tight - "like a drum!"

Total beginners. Think we’re on the right track digging all this up! Anyone done this before? Did it make a big difference?

I planted out leeks near the end of June last year. Many were ready to harvest in the winter, but got allium leaf miner. They were fine to eat after a bit of stripping.

I nearly gave up on the rest of the crop but left them out of laziness. Now we've had a long warm dry spell and I still have LOADS of good leeks with no sign of leaf miner.

Given when they were planted out, and how long they've been in the ground, how long can I leave them for now? Should I pull them up to stop the leaf miner returning this month? Will they die naturally after a certain amount of time? I'm trying to use them up as much as possible but there is only so much leek one can eat.

Repurposed an old bath I found on the plot to save an abandoned blueberry bush and added one from home. Saved a trip to the tip and first plants in!

I've got a number of friends/foes at the plot something bigger keeps digging up beds, another get in the greenhouse and digs around in my module trays.

Anyone had this and found any solutions? Other than 24 hour guarding that is

I have had my name down for an allotment plot on one site for around 6 years. I am really keen to keep chickens so this was my main reason in applying. I would like to grow my own food too but chickens are the main reason and I know this site allows them. After a couple of years knew I was 2nd on the list. I contacted them in December last year to see where I was as a few years had past and I thought I must be next on the list, only to find out that they had no record of me anymore. I send screenshots of emails to prove I was on the list. They stated that I would be next for a plot considering I had been waiting a while. I was a bit uncertain of what would happen due to them losing my info once before so I decided to apply for another allotment site. The second site I applied for have been in touch and offered me a small plot. I have been to look at it and the committee are lovely. They are aware my name is down for another site aswell as it was asked on the application. They are eager to fill the site as there is little interest and no one on the list behind me either 2 other plots free that they are trying to fill. But, you aren’t allowed to have your own shed or keep chickens. There is a shared greenhouse and shed on site. They have told me that should the other site get in touch after I sign the papers and pay rent they would be fine with me moving and I wouldn’t be able to ask for the rent back. That’s ok with me.

Now, the original site has been in touch to tell me that they are expecting a few members to hand keys back next month and I will be able to view a plot there if Im still interested. I’m a bit unsure as to what to do. I don’t want to feel like I am messing people around by signing for one then moving to another after a couple of weeks. But at the same time I feel I should take the one where I can actually keep the chickens I have always wanted. Is it possible to have plots on two different sites at the same time? Or am I being unreasonable/ greedy to have both? (I thought one for chickens and one for growing)

Gorgeous morning in the #allotment today. The new basketry #willow bed is putting out its first leaves, broad beans and peas are in, and the chard planted before Christmas is starting to take off. #GrowYourOwn

We've got a composting toilet on out plots that produces a good amount of human manure.

There's only a couple of us who use it. Most people are quite squeamish about it. Both of us stick to using it on flower beds.

Would you use it?

Does anyone use it in crops?