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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Gift for new allotment owner

24 replies

Mapleleav · 21/09/2023 14:44

My DM has been allocated an allotment and is very excited about it. I’d like to buy her a few gifts.

Can you please suggest some things? I’m not a gardener at all so need some inspiration. Budget of around £100. Thanks

OP posts:
spiderlight · 21/09/2023 14:53

A proper Japanese Hori Hori knife!! We use ours for everything on the allotment, to the point where we've ended up buying one each.

Original poster
Mapleleav · 21/09/2023 14:57

Fabulous! It’s something I’ve never heard of or would have thought of. I’m sure it’ll come in very handy

OP posts:
whereiwanttobe · 21/09/2023 15:00

An oscillating hoe. Mine is Kent and Stowe and I've bought three as gifts for people who love theirs as much as I love mine. Also good secateurs. Mine are Felco, and I have the snippers for deadheading too.

SkaneTos · 21/09/2023 15:02

Perhaps some nice gardening gloves?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 21/09/2023 15:03

I was going to say Voltarol rub but as it’s for your Mum:
I have a small seat on wheels which means you don’t have to stoop or bend over when weeding, sowing , harvesting etc. It’s so good that I have one in the front garden, one in the back ( and one in the garage for sorting through the freezers and the wine fridge….)

They are very robust, the oldest one has had constant use for twenty years.
Be sure to get the Draper , though, the rest are flimsy and break.

Gift for new allotment owner
Pootles34 · 21/09/2023 15:33

I came on to recommend the hori hori. Make sure to get one with a proper leather holster thing - they are quite lethal!

Original poster
Mapleleav · 21/09/2023 15:36

Thanks for the further suggestions! I should have said it’s a raised bed, so she won’t need to bend over/kneel

OP posts:
YellowJoggers · 21/09/2023 16:02

I got my grandad a personalised allotment keyring off Etsy or NOTHS

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 21/09/2023 16:15

Good secateurs - the standard £20 ones are so rubbish and twist sideways and the blade bends, but a good £50 pair will last forever and be much much easier. I bought Gonicc and Burgon&Ball years ago, love them.

SlippinJanie · 21/09/2023 16:24

Gardening gloves. It won't matter if they already have some; they don't last for ever & it's great to have a spare pair when the first gets wet. Also string in a tin with a sharp bit on top to cut it without needing scissors. Good tools are a joy: trowel, secateurs etc. Small spade if it's for a woman; I find normal spades much too heavy. Lots of little terracotta pots, much nicer than plastic.

Pottedpalm · 21/09/2023 17:30

Bamboo canes, gloves, maybe a nice plant support ( I love the iron ones which rust), snips

Pottedpalm · 21/09/2023 17:32

Off to buy a hori hori knife!

AlwaysFreezing · 21/09/2023 17:33

Decent flask would be my suggestion given that the hori hori has already been suggested!

And a trug. I use mine for everything.

boatfiasco · 21/09/2023 17:38

@spiderlight I've just ordered this for my parents for Xmas. What a great idea, thanks for sharing.

RichardArmitagesWife · 21/09/2023 17:41

Love the hori hori suggestion!

The River Cottage cook Veg Patch - the most useful book for my allotment I've every had.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 21/09/2023 18:54

Compost, chicken poo, manure, strulch.

People ask and want to give something present like. I don't keep anything nice or vaguely expensive there as it might get nicked. All my tools are from asda, b&m etc. What I really want os decent dirt amd no one ever gifts that!

olderbutwiser · 21/09/2023 19:09

Was just coming on to say what @TheIsleOfTheLost said - manure, compost, or ask her what she wants. I'm a bit of a gardener and my heart sinks when I get gardening presents from non gardeners - always well meaning but rarely what I want or need. But well rotted manure is always welcome, especially if delivered to the allotment.

TheSpottedZebra · 21/09/2023 19:26

Agree with last 2 posters!

You could buy her some compost, manure whatever, and pledge to shift it for her. If she's older, she might struggle to move heavy things herself. Some now and some in spring!

And warm feet. Whatever she needs for warm feet - boots, wool socks.

Or garden centre vouchers, to buy stuff with. Choosing the plants, seeds etc is 20% of the joy. Approx.

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2023 19:29

I agree with Hori Hori knife, and with something to sit on. I'm still using the kneeler I bought 20 years ago in my polytunnel.

Apart from that, onion sets, garlic cloves and a good pair of gloves to set her up for the winter.

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2023 19:31

spiderlight · 21/09/2023 14:53

A proper Japanese Hori Hori knife!! We use ours for everything on the allotment, to the point where we've ended up buying one each.

I've had mine for about 6 years, they are the best tool. And I had to buy my OH his own as he kept using mine.

Original poster
Mapleleav · 21/09/2023 19:39

I had to google what a number of these things are, it’s been an education! I will definitely go for the hori hori and a decent pair of gardening gloves.

My mum excitedly called me yesterday to say someone had kindly donated manure to the allotment, so her manure needs are satisfied for the time being 😂

OP posts:
IcakethereforeIam · 22/09/2023 18:47

A flexitub. Most useful thing I've got in my little garden. If you want I can list all the things I use it for.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 22/09/2023 20:08

Muck boots

Or wool rich socks

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