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5 really useful allotment ideas for beginners

allotment garden
Allotments for beginners: 5 ways to master growingSolStock - Getty Images

Allotments are renowned for their long waiting lists (you could be waiting for an average of three years), but once you get a plot, it will be more than worth it – not to mention the bumper harvest of fruit, veg and flowers you'll benefit from.

Allotments play a key role in helping people to gain skills and joy in gardening, live healthier lifestyles, develop friendships and strengthen communities. Here are some top tips for allotment newbies...

1. It’s all in the planning

With all the excitement that comes with getting your new plot, sometimes the planning stage can be cut short. Before digging, draw up a plan on paper, bearing in mind the type of soil you have, the way the sun hits your plot, the wind direction and access pathways.

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You need to equip yourself with good quality gardening tools (fork, spade, wheelbarrow, gloves and storage) and don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the task ahead. A wild allotment plot is a sign your ground is fertile, but it's best to wait for a rain shower to dampen the soil before you start digging.

Tip: Speak to more experienced gardeners at the allotment who will know instantly what does and doesn't work, saving you time and effort. You’ll also gain a green-fingered friend who can help you through your first year.

allotment vegetable garden with wooden raised beds planted with herbs, blue plastic water butts, wheel barrows, poly tunnels, chainlink fence
mtreasure - Getty Images

2. The power of perennials

These crafty plants are perfect for allotment beginners. Literally meaning 'through the years', perennial fruits and herbs – such as tomatoes, strawberries, garlic, basil and blueberries – typically live more than two years, returning each spring from their rootstock.

'Perennials' hearty growth can deplete the nutrients in the soil so keep up its quality with compost or well-rotted manure before planting,' suggest the experts at The Greenhouse People. 'Don't be tempted to remove the dead foliage during winter – this will attract small insects and give back nutrients to the soil without you lifting a finger.'

organic tomato plant, red tomatoes
Nabiha Dahhan - Getty Images

3. Companion planting

Companion planting is key to making the most out of your space and the quality of your produce. Certain complementary plants forge mutually beneficial relationships helping to repel pests, improve pollination and provide nutrients.

For example: Lettuces, radishes and other quick-growing plants sown between hills of melons or squash will mature and be harvested long before the vines need more room. Additionally, leafy greens such as spinach grow well in the shadow of corn.

Tip: Remember, growing members of the same family close together increases competition for soil nutrients. Disperse onions, chives, leeks and garlic across your plot, instead of keeping them close together.

allotments companion planting
Getty Images

4. A greenhouse

Sometimes the unpredictable British weather can mean the plant projects we've nurtured so tirelessly turn out to be less successful than hoped. But this is where a greenhouse comes in, even in small plots.

'Adding a greenhouse means you can ignore and evade almost all seasonal changes and weather conditions throughout the year,' say The Greenhouse People. 'Extreme temperatures, excessive rain or droughts will not cause any serious problems to greenhouse gardening efforts, giving you much-needed flexibility when it comes to any forms of complementary gardening.'

Tip: Think about adding an electric or gas heater. Along with overhead lighting, it can extend the growing period for warm season plants even longer.

5. Herb heroes

Planting herbs throughout your plot can help to repel insects with their strongly scented leaves. For example, sage repels cabbage moths and French Marigolds are great to grow with tomatoes because their strong scents repel aphids.

The benefits extend beyond protection, as the addition of herbs can also enhance the flavours of other plants. For example, growing basil alongside tomatoes and lettuce enhances the flavour of both.

Tip: If you grow the herb wormwood you can make a tea that, when poured on plants, repels slugs.

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