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Gardening

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

2026 Allotmenteers - have we lost the plot?!

201 replies

Seaitoverthere · 31/03/2026 15:51

A thread for those of us with new allotments to discuss progress and swap ideas. All welcome , established plot holders and wannabe plot holders too!

@blackheartsgirl
@hockityponktas

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Sproutling · 16/04/2026 16:59

Ours are separated in to two plots per each fenced area. We are bordered by a private lane with only one entrance, the gates to each pair of plots are off this lane, and a syke which runs the length of a racecouse behind the allotments. There are hedges all along the bank of the syke. The plots are around 15' wide, 100' long. Its classed as a 'medium size plot' There is a path between the two plots. Each plot has a shared gate, and a tap.

The people who have somehow managed to get a 'double plot', have both sides of the path, and are the only ones who use their gate/tap.

At least two of the allotmenteers have worked the two plots as one being theirs and one being a family member. One chap has 'his plot', and works the neighbouring plot 'for his friend', who still retains the tenancy. (Who pays the rent I'm not sure, and havent asked)

The plot next to ours and direct neighbour is a double plot, the chap is lovely and chats/offers plants equipment etc, but there's something that puts me off asking how he got his double plot.

There is another chap who has two plots but are not adjoining, he wanders up and down the lane from plot to plot, depending on what his tasks are for the day, he says he has one plot and the other is his daughter's.(We've never seen his daughter lol)
My partner got his plot after being on the waiting list 3 years, I've had my name down for around one year and am number 60 on the waiting list- I've moved up 4 spots since last August.

I dont think you would be given two plots under one name.

There are about 6 plots out of 50 that are neglected, including our neighbour's. Its very frustrating to see plots going to weed and dereliction when there's a waiting list.

Our rules are that the land must be evidently used for veg, fruit ,flowers, grass (does couch grass count?!) on annual inspection.

TheGander · 16/04/2026 17:09

We had an unofficial site rep as the contractors ( and now the council who has re taken management of allotments) do the bare minimum. He worked hard to get the abandoned plots re let as he was worried the council might have used under use as an excuse to sell the land. But now he’s throwing in the towel as the council never answer his emails.

Plotment · 17/04/2026 21:07

Ladies I have lost the plot 😂

Looking at how quick all my seeds came up last week on the kitchen table I have decided I am starting a farm of microgreens in my kitchen.

Much to DPs displeasure I have stolen the shoe shelving from the hallway and assembled it in the kitchen. Ordered meal prep trays online, hydraleca and will tommorow start my farm to use up my remaining seeds.

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳. Beyond excited!!!

Seaitoverthere · 17/04/2026 21:20

@Plotment congratulations, you have won the thread 😀

OP posts:
Plotment · 17/04/2026 21:41

Seaitoverthere · 17/04/2026 21:20

@Plotment congratulations, you have won the thread 😀

Lol! I hope it works!!

Very fascinating reading on the subject. Apparently these greens are very good for you. You are essentially eating the cotyledons with all their plant stem cells.

So I am doing..,
Pea shoots
Broccoli
Beetroots
Kohl Rabi
A bunch of random lettuces
pak Choi

If it goes well want to purchase some of the Asian style greens. If you search online there are so fancy looking micro green mix’s which people spend a fortune on purchasing.

hockityponktas · 18/04/2026 05:44

Ooh @Plotment thats exciting! I was looking into micro greens the other day!
People pay a fortune for what is essentially a load of seedlings don’t they.
when I’ve got a bit more space I might have a go.

january1244 · 18/04/2026 08:18

@Plotmentoh I do microgreens! They’re so so easy, and because you sow them so densely, one tray lasts a while. Hope you enjoy!

hockityponktas · 18/04/2026 08:22

@january1244 what seeds do you use? Went down a bit of a rabbit hole on google and now feel a bit overwhelmed with the choice🤣

january1244 · 18/04/2026 11:06

@hockityponktasthey don’t take up much space. I mostly sow them in an old haribo container, pop them on the kitchen windowsill, and then sow another container the following week. Pop a few on top of food to garnish, in a sandwich, on top of breakfast eggs and avocado etc

Plotment · 18/04/2026 11:15

hockityponktas · 18/04/2026 08:22

@january1244 what seeds do you use? Went down a bit of a rabbit hole on google and now feel a bit overwhelmed with the choice🤣

Just use your left over allotment seeds.

january1244 · 18/04/2026 11:34

You just have to be careful with microgreens as you’re eating the whole plant raw and young, so it’s safer to avoid seeds that could have chemical coatings etc as any chemicals build up and accumulate very quickly. Special microgreens ones or organic and non GMO are best as conventional seeds can be treated with fungicides or pesticides etc for shelf stability which aren’t safe in quick grown to eat crops

Plotment · 18/04/2026 12:22

january1244 · 18/04/2026 11:34

You just have to be careful with microgreens as you’re eating the whole plant raw and young, so it’s safer to avoid seeds that could have chemical coatings etc as any chemicals build up and accumulate very quickly. Special microgreens ones or organic and non GMO are best as conventional seeds can be treated with fungicides or pesticides etc for shelf stability which aren’t safe in quick grown to eat crops

I agree that’s best practice but in all reality the greens in the supermarkets have probably been through much more. So I am not too worried.

tealandteal · 18/04/2026 14:09

Microgreens sound exciting! I just told the children if they don’t pick up their toys I will be getting rid of them to turn the room into a plant room. They know I am joking but it would be lovely to have lots of space to start seedlings. I don’t have a greenhouse so everything is on a windowsill.

I went to the allotment this morning and built a raised bed over one of my current beds that nothing has done very well in. I have made the raised bed a bit bigger than the existing space to fit the arches I got for Christmas. I will hopefully have a pumpkin arch here.

I also put in stakes to support all my little fruit bushes. I have two jostaberries, a red gooseberry, a blackcurrant and a goji berry as well as the established redcurrant and gooseberry. I don’t think they need the support but my dog is only 10 months old and she kept sitting on them and knocking them so hopefully this will protect them.

hockityponktas · 18/04/2026 14:31

Plotment · 18/04/2026 11:15

Just use your left over allotment seeds.

That’s what I’m planning, just wasn’t sure on what combo to do! I think I’ll go with the leftover brassicas and maybe salad leaves/rocket

Plotment · 18/04/2026 17:14

hockityponktas · 18/04/2026 14:31

That’s what I’m planning, just wasn’t sure on what combo to do! I think I’ll go with the leftover brassicas and maybe salad leaves/rocket

That’s basically what I am doing. Just throwing it all in and seeing what happens 😂

Browniesandcustard · 19/04/2026 15:10

Hi can I please join? I’ve just been accepted for a small charity run allotment plot which has nothing on it (the plot!) just some small plank type dividers - and am on quite a small budget. I’d love to hear what can be grown fairly quickly and cheaply as I have to start growing something within the first couple of months. That may sound a bit open ended but I’m not sure where to start! Thank you and looking forward to getting stuck into the this thread and my plot!

Breadcat24 · 19/04/2026 15:34

@Browniesandcustard welcome!
My advice is do not try to clear the whole space and sort paths before you start growing something. Clear a bit then plant something as your reward.
Do you have any covered area like a green house or poly tunnel if not look on ebay to see if anyone is getting rid, also look to see if any sheds are going begging.
Regarding plants:
Get some mixed salad leaf seeds- about £2 for 100. Plant in a seed tray in a windowsill at home you can transplant then to your plot when they get about 5cm high, Advise you get a net tunnel - will last for a few years and stop caterpillars.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GARDEN-TUNNEL-PROTECT-VEGETABLES-INSECTS/dp/B074H8938X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?sr=8-2-spons&aref=zosi6eVism&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

Plant seed potatoes now you can get then from all sorts of places from Home bargains to proper garden centres. about £5 but you should get a good crop.
If you can splash a bit get an autumn raspberry plan now and you will get lovely fruit later. Good quality one about £11- crappier one from pound shop about £5 but i wouldn't.
Try to put some manure or fertilizer in your ground.
The range does 3 x 50l for £15
As it is getting later you might want to buy some pre sprouted courgette / tomatoes / peppers - individual plants £1.49 at the range.
Courgettes grow in then they can be planted out as long as you keep them watered.
Tomatoes and peppers could do with being covered- if you do not get a greenhouse etc rig yourself up something with sticks and a sheet of polythene.
Beetroot seedlings could be bought now and grown on at home and planted out.
Buy broad been, peas and just plant directly out in soil - make a tower out of sticks

Sorry if you know all this just trying to be helpful

Amazon

Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GARDEN-TUNNEL-PROTECT-VEGETABLES-INSECTS/dp/B074H8938X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?aref=zosi6eVism&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&sr=8-2-spons&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-gardening-5510892-2026-allotmenteers-have-we-lost-the-plot

Browniesandcustard · 19/04/2026 19:42

@Breadcat24 thank you so much for your post - I’ve made notes from it and will start getting bits together. Thank you again, it’s much appreciated and hopefully I’ll get some bits grown this year - looking forward to reading everyone’s uodates 😎

Plotment · 19/04/2026 23:36

Browniesandcustard · 19/04/2026 19:42

@Breadcat24 thank you so much for your post - I’ve made notes from it and will start getting bits together. Thank you again, it’s much appreciated and hopefully I’ll get some bits grown this year - looking forward to reading everyone’s uodates 😎

When I started I got this and it was super helpful to knowing when to do everything. Also can make notes of varieties you grow and track your progress so you can decide next year what worked and what didn’t…

I got mine on vinted so was really cheap.

Plotment · 19/04/2026 23:37

A link would help 😂

https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781916092013/charles-dowdings-vegetable-garden-diary

Plotment · 19/04/2026 23:37

A link would help 😂

https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781916092013/charles-dowdings-vegetable-garden-diary

january1244 · 20/04/2026 13:05

Ohh I love Charles Dowding- he does a YouTube video of what to plant when also.

Good luck with your new plot @Breadcat24!

Re the microgreens, that’s exactly what I did at the beginning, used up my peas and mangetout etc and they tasted fine/good! It’s only as we eat them more that I’ve been more cautious

january1244 · 20/04/2026 15:08

This is probably a silly question, but is anyone finding the ground too hard to clear/dig? I went down at lunch to plant some potatoes and dig another bed out, and even jumping on the spade as hard as I can, I couldn’t get into the ground more than an inch. I wet the soil, and it didn’t make any difference. Any tips?

Ive chucked a load of leftover topsoil over the weeds and then a layer of grass clippings and then a bag of straw I had leftover. I don’t know if that’ll help the soil or if I have to wait? We have clay soil, but I didn’t find it so hard to dig out and clear the other beds

TheGander · 20/04/2026 20:58

Is it in an area you walk on ? Clay is a bugger, I have it too and if I don’t t take care to lay down planks and walk on them, it can set like concrete. Certainly adding any kind of organic matter, either dig in or on top ( but obviously the latter takes longer) will help. I’ve just dug in clover on the plot I will be using to plant sweetcorn in, in about 6 weeks.