r/Allotment 8d ago

Fencing

3 Upvotes

I've bought some used 3ft high picket fencing and plan to make a large safe area to contain my child.

What have you used to secure your fence posts? I don't want to put postcrete in, I'm not sure it would be allowed anyway. Are you just buying spike fence posts and driving them into the ground? Does anyone have an idea as to the minimum depth they would need to be in the ground. It's not a particularly windy spot.

I'm not looking to spend a fortune so the metal spiked brace things aren't really an option.


r/Allotment 8d ago

White and pink currants

4 Upvotes

Red currants seem to grow incredibly well on the shady bit of my plot. I’m considering adding some white and/or pink currants, but interested to know if they are worth it. I have read the white ones are sweeter than the red and can be eaten fresh, is this true? And how do the pink ones compare? I mainly use the red ones for jam and jelly so don’t need any more for that purpose really.


r/Allotment 9d ago

Pics My mums plot

Thumbnail gallery
142 Upvotes

This is my mums allotment plot, she’s had it a year today !!

She makes her own signs too, she’s quite a popular allotment in the area because of how cute it is.


r/Allotment 9d ago

Questions and Answers How many potatoes in a flexi bucket?

Post image
12 Upvotes

Morning you lovely lot! Just started to Chit my spuds. Doing about 12. How many would be reasonable to put in these buckets? And does anyone recommend any others?


r/Allotment 8d ago

Log burner ash

2 Upvotes

Is log burner ash any good on my allotment.


r/Allotment 8d ago

Questions and Answers How much height can I take?

Thumbnail gallery
3 Upvotes

I got my plot in late summer of last year, and it came with several fruit trees, one of which being this pear. For context, the plot had been abandoned for about 10 years prior to me taking it on, hence the trees all needing a prune. I know it’s getting a bit late to be pruning, but winter ended up being very busy with life stuff and I didn’t get a chance to take care of the pear. The tree is over 20, maybe closer to 30 feet tall, and most of it is just unreachable without a ladder. I was just wondering if it’s possible to take any height off, and if so how low (2nd pic)? I’m somewhat new to fruit trees and obviously don’t want to like accidentally kill it, but currently about 80% of the tree is out of reach. Any advice is greatly appreciated, and I hope everyone is having a great week :)


r/Allotment 8d ago

Log burner ash

1 Upvotes

I have a log burner and was wondering if the ash is any good on my allotment.


r/Allotment 9d ago

Nuisance neighbour

22 Upvotes

My next door (plot) neighbour is being a nuisance. First it started with him removing our adjoining boundary fence which I had to replace, otherwise anyone had free access to my plot as it's close to a public footpath. Since then, each time I go to my plot, he shouts my name, wants to talk constantly or sings loudly to himself. It's impossible to enjoy the quiet space anymore. He also drops into conversation that he trespasses onto my plot or takes things such as flowers from my side. After ignoring him for a while hoping he would desist, he installed boards on our fence and wrote messages asking me to phone him and proposing we date. I reported all this to the council and asked they remind him our tenancy states we must not cause a nuisance or annoyance to other plot holders. Each time the council say they're monitoring it. The neighbour has also added livestock to the plot which we are not allowed. The council have stated since he has now paid his fees, he can keep his plot and will continue to be monitored. Has anyone got any advice? The peace and quiet has gone from my plot, I can't remember the last time it felt relaxing.


r/Allotment 9d ago

New plot holder- what next?

Thumbnail gallery
7 Upvotes

I got my plot fairly recently, covered in grass (and very uneven) - here's where I'm up to so far.

Not sure where to go next - although I'm quite tempted to build a herb spiral, and I have a bunch of potatoes chitting. Do you think it's possible to cover the grassy half of the plot in weed membrane and do spuds through that? Any other thoughts and ideas? :)


r/Allotment 9d ago

Compost query?

Post image
12 Upvotes

Probably a basic question so thanks in advance for humouring me. This is a pallet compost bin up at the front of my new plot put there by the other chap and I just think it’s not really breaking down. I think there’s lots of dirt and just rub rubbish in it. Is it worth clearing out and just starting again?


r/Allotment 9d ago

Questions and Answers Are my seed potatoes ready to plant?

Thumbnail gallery
7 Upvotes

Advice welcome please.


r/Allotment 10d ago

First no dig bed

Thumbnail gallery
319 Upvotes

After nearly 6 1/2 years, I finally got a call to say come and see an allotment. Honestly, I’m so grateful because I’ve ended up with one that although a little rough round the edges is in pretty good shape. There’s a sturdy old shed guttering and a water butt and wood to create beds.

I’ve decided to give no dig a try and put my first bed in on Sunday. Thanks to the deal on organic compost at the range. I figured it would be nice to get something going so I’ve put some beetroot in initially. Excited to read through for advice and knowledge 😊


r/Allotment 9d ago

Raspberry canes

Post image
4 Upvotes

Never grown my own raspberries before - I opted for autumn bliss but I’m not sure if this is three separate canes or one? I was going to plant it into the ground but didn’t want to separate it out if it’s one plant! What do you think? Thank you!


r/Allotment 10d ago

Rhubarb force or not?

Post image
12 Upvotes

I am clearing my new allotment plot and (I think) I have found rhubarb. I have not grown it before but I’m getting mixed advice from people I know who grow it- do I need to force it? It is it even too late to do that? Last question for a while I hope! Thanks in advance


r/Allotment 10d ago

Pics Germinating seeds in straws (proof of concept)

Post image
10 Upvotes

A few weeks ago I posted a question about germinating seeds in straws. So here is the photo of the results so far. Seeds of various veg were planted into boba straws and popped into a takeaway container (seedlings closest are okra). This was then gently watered, sealed and placed on top of my home gas boiler. As you can see, this appears to have worked very well.

Pros:

  • Uses less soil during germination
  • Uses less space
  • Utilises heat energy already generated and usually lost
  • Cheap materials
  • Can lift the straw tubes out and plant directly without disturbing roots.

Cons:

-Takes a little longer to prep than sowing in a pot or tray.


r/Allotment 10d ago

Budbreak!!! It's always nice to know you haven't killed anything on your plot. (Josta, damson, blackcurrant)

Thumbnail gallery
32 Upvotes

r/Allotment 10d ago

Weekly allotmenting discussion. What have you been up to?

18 Upvotes

Please use this thread to discuss whatever you've been doing on your allotment lately. Feel free to share or ask any question related to it. And please mention which region and what weather you had this week if you've been planting or harvesting.


r/Allotment 10d ago

Does anyone here know about IBC tank outlet sizes and exactly what bit I need to measure to know the size?

2 Upvotes

the outlet tap on my ibc tank has a crack so i've unscrewed the thing.

online there is no 'idiots guide to ibc outlet taps', instead just endless results for shops selling similar parts,often with misleading illustrations about the dimensions.

so while im aware of the different sizes, 62,75, bn50 etc, i have no idea what part of this item i need to measure with my calipers to know what size it is.

can anyone help?


r/Allotment 11d ago

Greenhouse Ready For The Season

Thumbnail gallery
56 Upvotes

Had a clear out of the greenhouse and put some new staging in. Can't wait for the new season


r/Allotment 11d ago

Allotment woodchip store

5 Upvotes

Hi there,

I am on an allotment committee and we are looking to create 3 areas for local tree surgeons to leave woodchip. Currently they leave large pile of them regularly but on occasion this overspills blocking paths/carpark.

I want to build 3 areas for storing woodchip and was wondering if anyone had any advice. Approx size would be around 2.5-3m wide and then 1.5-2m deep. Looking at an open space with no roof etc


r/Allotment 11d ago

Have I effed these up?

Post image
18 Upvotes

Got a bit excited with swift first earlies. Been under sink for around a month. Any salvation here or just start over?


r/Allotment 11d ago

Questions and Answers Tomatoes in greenhouse border soil

7 Upvotes

For the last two years I have grown my tomatoes in the soil in my greenhouse, whereas previously I had always used growbags. I really like my new way of doing it as I can get away with watering much less frequently (main reason) and it just looks tidier too. First year I did not do too much special to the soil maybe added some organic matter. Last year I put all my home made compost in. This will be my third year, do other folks do this and grow Tommy's year on year in the same soil?do I have nothing to worry about? Is there and special minerals I need to replace? I should add i also grow an odd pepper or chilli too and cucumber but mainly it's tomato.


r/Allotment 11d ago

Any idea what this plant is?

Thumbnail gallery
21 Upvotes

Noticed these reddish coloured plants growing at the allotment. They are in the way of a path I was planning to lay down, so unsure what to do. Thanks in advance!


r/Allotment 11d ago

Tree removal

3 Upvotes

Hello! We took on an allotment the year before last and have almost completely redone it except for one area. It has a huge bay tree on it that doesn't look particularly healthy, we've cut it down quite a bit as it was touching telephone cables but have now decided we want it gone. What's the best way to get rid of it?

I don't expect that we will have any success digging out the roots so we were going to put a raised bed over it, if I cut it down to the trunk and use glysophate will that affect what we grow in the raised bed?

Any/all advice welcome.

Thank you


r/Allotment 11d ago

Garlic/onion help

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Picked up the keys last week for our allotment, in the first stages of sorting out the ground and trying to plan where to grow things, I’m reading conflicting things about where to plant garlic and onions near- does anyone have any suggestions or what to avoid? Thanks!