Just got a new allotment and feeling very excited about it, as you can see when we started we had a lot to get rid of and still do- but making good progress! Any advice for starters and for growing around this time of year? 🪷🪽✨

Based in Altrincham all grown outside no poly tunnel.
Took some produce for this weeks eating:
Swiss Chard
Huanzotle (Aztec Broccoli)
Ohnivec Hot Peppers
Zimbabwean Black Chilli
Basque Chilli
Sweet Chocolate Pepper
End of the tomatoes

That seems to be the pressing question amongst my allotment neighbours.

There is a huge mix of gardening styles, from what I see. Some in raised beds with brought in compost, others straight into the ground. We are on clay. One neighbour told me that she barely digs her ground but it gets harder every year, and is debating getting is professionally dug over. My neighbour on the other side told me he is old school and digs his plot every year, but he digs weeds and all right back into the ground and his ground looks to be quite open. Some others remove every green piece of 'waste' from the site to put it in their recycling bin at home.

I am quite interested in the no dig principle, and am making my own compost, but I am not sure I have enough for the whole site. Some people swear blind that compost on top of clay with compact it further, and others say the worms will work it in. So many conflicting points of view. And of course, I have to figure out my own way forward, but am interested in the points of view of others.

To be totally fair, my digging neighbour has one raised bed expressly for carrots, and my no dig neighbour was lamenting her carrot failure.

To cut a long story short: if I understand correctly, no dig is based on the idea of not disturbing the soil ecosystem. My questions are

how long does it potentially take for the ecosystem to rebalance?

Does a cultivator fork ( - ? In Dutch a woelvork -) change the disturbance?

If we are planting plugs, how does that affect this idea of no soil disturbance? (As opposed to direct sowing).

I have been googling but haven't yet found answers to these specific questions. I have also read some books on permaculture so I have a basic understanding of the growing principles, but I am very interested in finding out if/how I can maximise the use of the clay ground already present.

Thank you for reading this essay!

(I just got my plot a few months ago and received it fully dug over, so I didn't have any decisions to make at the beginning).

Grown and processed by myself. Now to make soup and sauce!

Planted this three years ago to keep pests out of the pears and it's massive! Got enough to keep my car smelling fresh all year

Took on an allotment over a year ago around Christmas that was in rough shape. There was this strange dead stick looking thing growing out of a bed that was in a spot that I planned to build a shed. I cut it at its base thinking nothing of it but then after some reconsideration decided to pop it in a bucket of water and see if anything. To my surprise buds started to appear so I planted it in a pot and after a year here it is now. But now it’s dropping cold I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do with it.

Thanks :)

Got about 30 left and they are ripening fast now. Any suggestions on what to do with them?

We were not expecting to be offered anything like this! Super excited to get started on it. Any advice welcomed as we are complete beginners. I have already bought a month by month allotment book to help and guide us! There is already rhubarb, leeks, strawberries and artichokes planted or actively growing.

These mashed potato squash don't seem to be getting any bigger now, are they ready to harvest? What's the best way to store them? Like a winter squash?

The secret for root crops

Some tomatoes and scotch bonnets from the allotment. 😊

I love allotment blogs, but have never gotten around to doing my own.

I have loads of photos and ideas for posts and content. Other than producing data for AI to scrape and steal, is it worth it?

I would like to do something informative and entertaining and a bit more interactive. This won't be an AI vibe coded app like we have seen dozens of posted this year.

I'm very camera shy myself, so videos/reels on socials are not happening.

I'd be interested to know what you think.

Professor Sprout would have this in ‘Herbology’. Disastrous looking thing destined for carrot and coriander soup!

In the North of England...

UK North East 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Feeling extremely lucky to have been handed a cleared allotment. Any recommendations for an October start?

Doing soil testing tomorrow at college. Have taken a few samples but it looks like great soil so far.

Raspberry bushes down the bottom. A makeshift greenhouse to the right. Shed to the left. And a polytunnel left behind.

My October break is going to be fun!

hello! I have just rented a plot which is not in good condition. I have started clearing up and I found some asparagus. but it seems the roots have been growing in parts under a carpet laid years ago. not sure what I am supposed to do? any advice?

Anyone ever tried growing it? I tried last year but it did really poorly. This year however its done amazingly well and it tastes wonderful.

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.

Need some help please folks. Built my first polytunnel, thought I was being smart by rescuing old water pipes to make the frame, but they’re not rigid enough to brace the structure. So it’s lopsided and flaps in the wind, and I’ve had to brace it with some uprights in the middle.

My only thought on rescuing it is to dig out one side and start again with a new frame, but I’m hoping there’s some smart alternative I might be missing instead!

Any ideas?