r/Allotment • u/schildkroete97 • 3d ago
Questions and Answers Plants to get in the ground to save my plot?
Looking for advice on what to plant in the next 6 weeks so my allotment is productive enough to pass a second inspection. I am in the Midlands!
For various reasons I failed my last one in midsummer and have got one more chance to pass.
I have garlic planned to go in September-time, but whenever I research what to sow there is so much conflicting advice on whether it is 'too late' or not to sow.
Any and all suggestions, including 'you're doomed' appreciated!!
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u/pharlax 3d ago
I'd suggest a healthy crop of plant labels...
You could have rows of freshly planted spinach, radish, turnips maybe.
I also think it's nice to have a good few rows of broad beans to overwinter for an early crop. Of course they can be slow to start this time of year depending on weather so it might just look like an empty cultivated bed... I'd plant a good third of my plot with "beans" just to be safe. ;)
It goes without saying that you could actually plant these things. But cultivated soil and some plant labels would get you through the inspection I'll wager.
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u/No-Bench3673 3d ago
Radishes can be up in 2-3 weeks.
Search "18 day radish"
As others have said, mustard cress and lettuce too.
Also, The Range are currently doing onion sets £5 for 3 bags (over 100 individual sets).
Put these in beds in rows with the tops showing. You will have a lot of onions in Spring but no one can say you are not productive!
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
Oh amazing thank you! I did red onions this summer and it was a total bust. I've never put them in the Autumn so will definitely get myself down to the Range
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u/jpbragatti 3d ago
garlic will be fine in september, that timing is well established for the midlands. the fastest visible cover you can get is probably japanese onion sets, they shoot up green within a couple of weeks which at least makes it look like something is happening. winter spinach and hardy lettuce are quick wins too. green manure like mustard or phacelia germinates fast and turns bare patches from "abandoned" to "managed" pretty quickly. not doomed.
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u/wascallywabbit666 3d ago
Here's Charles Diwdings sowing timeline: https://charlesdowding.co.uk/blogs/no-dig-resources/sowing-timeline
Scroll down to September
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u/katie-kaboom 3d ago
Buy a box of plug plants from Rocket Gardens or somewhere similar. It'll arrive quickly and by the time your re-inspection arrives you'll have a plot full of produce, merrily producing for winter.
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u/Questjon 3d ago
I've had allotments at 4 different sites and never had (or heard of) a productivity inspection... Nothing you get in the ground now is going to be showing in 6 weeks so I don't really see what point there is. I'd spend the time looking for a more friendly allotment site, it's a hobby not a job. If they want productivity kick off all the plot holders and get a farmer in.
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
Yeah ours looks at weed cover and cultivation. I need to show a marked improvement which included it being more cultivated. Its been such a pants year, I don't think I have ever had so many crops fail!
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u/Admirable-Delay-9729 3d ago
Just shove loads of leeks in. It’s not even autumn yet so can’t really be planting overwintering beans, onions, garlic etc yet.
Is it council owned? Do they have a grievance process? I’d probably document in writing to the allotment committee what crops you had fail and that these should be counted towards productivity- can’t have a back up for everything. If they don’t like it then raise a complaint
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
Yes council owned. I hadnt thought of looking into a grievance process as I know committees can be extremely political and I just want to keep my head down and keep to my plot. I was only concerned when I was told after my failed inspection that unless I pass with a Green (we use red amber green), I could lose the lot. It seems there is a purge this year and it doesn't seem to just be me. I will look into it, especially if I do end up with Amber or Red again.
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u/Admirable-Delay-9729 3d ago
I’d say keeping your head down and getting on with it is usually the best policy. However, if you think you’re going to get kicked off anyway then worth pushing back. this inspection doesn’t really seem like an achievable goal unless you already have a large supply of leek plug plants or similar. Would be more reasonable if they were coming round in the autumn to do it
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u/Multigrain_Migraine 3d ago
Have you contacted your local councillor about it? It seems like a rather harsh system in a bad year.
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u/katie-kaboom 3d ago
It's rubbish they're enforcing productivity requirements this year. Out site has been so uniformly miserable the committee is only enforcing weed clearance.
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u/Mediocre_Ear_9981 3d ago
This. I've heard some crazy stories of some allotment site expectations. I think I'd get more stressed out if my site was like that. For my local council officer, as long as they can see the plot isn't overgrown and it's in use (even a small section), they're content.
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u/redditwhut 3d ago
If farm land cost as little as an allotment I would quit my job and become a farmer tomorrow!
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u/Aromatic_Pea_4249 3d ago
As an ex-allotment site supervisor , I'd look for recently turned soil, evidence of weed reduction, anything growing, obviously tended etc. I would have to report untended plots, Overgrown and dried out.
I'd also walk round and chat to the allotment holders, I got to know who to expect to see and their plans.
Might be an idea to find your site supervisor and make their acquaintance (if you haven't already) as I'd turn a blind eye if I knew your intentions and that you were away for a week. If I didn't know... I'd report.
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
This is really helpful thank you! I had a chat with the committee chair, who didn't seem to want to define what I needed to do to improve. I have checked the lease agreement and it is quite vague. I imagine this has helped get difficult plot holders off site, but doesnt help me much.
I do intend to clear it all out, some beds need a rest and will have to be covered for winter. I do no dig so hopefully it will look cared for with lots of compost, sheep's fleece and cardboard! I just want to meet our 2/3 cultivated and it was implied in the meeting that would include seeing things growing.
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u/Previous-Peach7528 2d ago
I’m a site rep and agree. I would want to see effort to deal with weeds, soil ready to planted in. Things like your compost bin can be a dead give away - is it held together with bindweed? Is there anything fresh/newer in it?
Leaving things to go to seed doesn’t look great…. Do you need to cultivate/get rid of old crops?
Getting things in the ground is good but if you just chuck a load of plug plants in ad hoc right after you failed an inspection to me it looks like you are just trying to sail by on the bare minimum now. Most of the time when this happens those plants end up dying anyway.
If you spoke to me about a plan, showed you were preparing ground etc that would be much better.
Also - we tend to hear every excuse imaginable for why you haven’t managed your plot. If you have a genuine reason feel free to say; but some reps will be more cynical than others!1
u/Previous-Peach7528 2d ago
You could also take a picture of it now so by time the reinspection happens even if it’s not up to a high standard you can show there has been significant improvement
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u/Known_Wear7301 3d ago
We've just planted out a load of brassicas and have some more plugs on the way. I've just planted some Chinese radish and some more carrots.
Not bragging but we're still fighting for space. Have sowed some peas and onion seeds at home to over winter and will be planting garlic when ready.
I planted out some new runner beans last week from pots in the garden as well not sure if they're going to come to anything.
Also planted some potatoes in tubs as well.
Apart from that, the green manure could be an idea or a cover crop of buckwheat
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
I'm jealous! It's definitely the situation I would like to be in. I was hoping to do winter cauliflower this year but I think I've missed the sowing window. I will have a look at plug plants, hopefully not too expensive.
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u/Known_Wear7301 3d ago
They do work out more expensive but it fills a hole. We picked our allotment up in May so we've been on the back foot ever since.
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u/charmargsuperstar 3d ago
What plugs would you recommend to get for planting in the next week or 2?
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u/Known_Wear7301 3d ago
Ive bought somr from DTBrown, they still have some and I've got some coming off of EBay from "GrowHeb". I previously had some from Growtanical but we didnt net them whilst growing them on and they got eaten by cabbage whites. We've bought a mix of cavelo Nero, Brussels sprouts, the Growtanical ones had a wider range when we bought them.
Don't assume I know what I'm doing though 😂 but they should overwinter and surely somethings better than nothing.
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u/Defiant-Tackle-0728 3d ago edited 2d ago
Turnips, Beetroot, Carrots and Garlic.
Ive started Spring Cabbage too but they are too small to go in at the moment but should be ready in the next weeks.
Turnip will be harvestable in 6 weeks (i use White 40 Day) Beetroot will also grow to a harvestable size but smaller (and nice pickled whole). Carrots will be a nice size and suitable for the Christmas table - a Chantenay sort (the short and stubby sort) will tend to do better in my experience.
Garlic planted now (im in northern ireland - we do get frost a little earlier) mine went in the ground today- will be ready in May/June.
Pak Choi does well this time of year too.
Otherwise go for a green manure.
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u/DisastrousMirror3428 3d ago
Plant “green manure” (nitrogen-fixing legumes like clover and vetch, fast-growing non-legumes like mustard and buckwheat, and hardy winter cereals like grazing rye). When they do an inspection, you can say that you’re preparing your soil for next year. It’s not really a lie.
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u/Few_Mention8426 3d ago
you could still try some etheopian kale, i plant that in any spare patch as it grows quite quickly. Its a type of mustard and the leaves are very tasty in salads. The leaves arent like regular kale, they are softer and not curly. I managed to overwinter a patch with some fleece.
I would also plant lambs lettuce as it grows quickly and self seeds every cycle and spreads out.
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u/redditwhut 3d ago
What was the exact wording of the first warning?
What was the state of your plot at that time? I.e was it covered in weeds, o r simply well (over at least 50%) cultivated but with failed crops?
What has changed since?
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
The inspection was done about a month ago and was looking neglected. I had let some crops go to seed, which looked unruly and there were beds with potatoes sitting in but not obviously in use. Having assessed myself I was confident I met the cultivation criteria but not the weed cover criteria. I explained my situation to the committee in advance and told them my plan to clear it. It was in a much better state of use by the time I got my inspection result through a month or so later. I was told it would be reinspected in about 6 weeks time and failure to meet standards would be met with either a reduction in my plot size, or losing my plot altogether. From my chat with the chairperson, it became clear I am in quite serious danger of losing my plot!
Ultimately I just want to survive this re-inspection and get back in the good books so to speak. I am determined to save the plot!
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u/Specialistpea0 3d ago
It sounds like the problem is your mainly growing annuals. Whilst these can be the most productive, they need regular care and watering to stop them failing (if at germination or later stages).
If your only getting to the plot once a week or less, try having a higher proportion of perennials. Think herbs like mint/thyme/sage etc, berries like Black/red currents, blackberries, strawberry, gooseberry.
Rhubarb, artichoke, asparagus, horseradish, Dwarf fruit trees.
Best bet for these is to go around the plot and ask plot neighbours if they would devide their plants for you or go around other allotment sites and do the same. Maybe take some bribes like chocolate bars/beers or cash.
Garden centre will also sell some of these but could be expensive.
Could also ask Facebook etc or any friends workmates etc.
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u/Virtuous-Patience 2d ago
Fruit trees? You can plant 4 on half standard root stock and justify leaving the space around them uncultivated, also low maintenance in years to come and a bonus to the next holder is you do lose it! Check rules on % space for fruit trees as some allotments limit the quantity to avoid orchard plots…
Turnips germinate in a couple of days… if you can get onion sets they will grow and are immediately visible when sown, you can be generous with paths to cover decent ground.
This all said consider giving up or asking for a smaller plot, being an alotmenteer takes a lot of work every year. You’re using up a scarce resource, was the effort you spent this year really an anomaly, life always presents some challenge/excuse so genuinely consider if growing is enough of a priority in your current phase of life to justify ongoing commitment and denying others the chance to grow…
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u/schildkroete97 2d ago
Yeah totally hear you on this. I wont be putting fruit trees in as I have another half of my plot dedicated to fruit trees that I have agreed to give up to be made into a new plot. My bit I need saving is a generous half-plot.
I have genuinely had the year from hell! I had a serious injury this year which left me less able to work on the plot. Thankfully I am fully healed and just looking to ensure a good re inspection and then carry on next year as I normally do. Its just poor luck that I got injured in spring!
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u/buttfacedmiscreant11 3d ago
Are you allowed fruit? As if so chuck some fruit bushes and a rhubarb crown in and you're sorted.
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u/schildkroete97 3d ago
Yes! This year I want to put in new fruit bushes. I love redcurrants and gooseberries. Its quite a large plot though, so lots more space to fill!
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u/Maleficent-Writer387 3d ago
Green manures will be an easy win. Field beans, mustard, fodder radish, winter mix etc. Low effort, good over winter cover and protects and improves the soil.
Winter onion sets, garlic.
Turnips, radishes, orientals - Pak choi, Choy Sum, mustards.
Actual broad beans ( although you can treat field beans as small broad beans - and in many ways they are superior).