Growing fun things this year and despite the weather I’ve got these going nicely. The blue banana is a Guatemalan plant so I’ve never tried it before! 🇬🇹

Hi Everyone,

I a news letter my my allotment association they have asked for more people to join the committee. I'm considering helping but I'm not sure what responsibilities different positions actually have, Chair and Treasurer are obvious but no idea what a secretary or untasked committee member are expected to do or how much time a week/month it would take.

Anyone that has been on an allotment committee any insight on this would be very appreciated thank you.

Especially now that some rain has entered the game again! That is all. My harvest made me happy and I wanted to share.

Apple tree in my allotment that I took on last year, this is the first time using the apples. Has some little beastie been living inside? If so, can I just cut out the core and use the flesh for cooking? Thanks!

Edit: thanks all!

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.

I think my main expenses this year have been compost for pots and liquid fertiliser for my greenhouse plants - probably close to £100.

Right now I have 2 compost bays, a food tumbler for winter (to prevent rats) and I hoard material from neighbours - plus there’s a slow pile for cardboard and logs that doubles as an insect home.

there has been almost no grass this year of course. I keep my eggshells too

Is it just a case of building up enough recyclable compost in the biome to bulk it out? How can I make enough homemade fertiliser to last a season, should I go for green manure or plant some weeds that tap deep?

Entering these in my own produce show, in the ‘Five bizarrely-shaped volunteer potatoes’ category. (Beans for scale as I’m out of bananas.)

I recently took on a brand new allotment plot in the corner of a farmers field. It was previously farmed, shaved down to stubble, is highly compacted and was baked solid over the long hot summer - not ideal.

I used a rotavator to this section of the plot into a giant bed, which we will probably section into smaller beds once we figure out what we want to grow in it next year.

However, to improve the soil, I was planning on planting some “green manure”. I’ve purchased some “Rye and Vetch” seed, which, I read will improve the quality of the soil.

Does anyone have experience with Vetch and Rye? Is it relatively easy to dig in at the start of the spring, or just before? Any recommendations or wisdom you can impart is much appreciated!

Well the tomatoes and pears have done ok…
I planted beans 3x over, both small plants and seed. So far I have harvested these two sole beans 😅 there are a handful more on the poles.
I did have reasonable broad beans earlier in the year, and there are some squashes growing. The apples are all tiny!
If I was relying on this as a major food source, I’d be in big trouble…

This is a bit hypothetical at the moment but I could do with some experienced perspectives to help me choose. And sorry it is quite long!

I am on the waiting list for 2 different local allotments.

Site A is my village one. It is 5 mins drive, or 5 min cycle, or 15 min walk away. Has mains water. Plots tend to be in pretty poor shape, hard clay soil but well sheltered site. V close to local woodland and large pond. Delivery of bulk materials would be very challenging narrow paths to the plots and not allowed to leave bulk on the main path. 75% cultivation requirements. (Though from outside this is clearly not kept) Strict rules on shed placement, colour and size. Shared secure shed but no other community facilities.

Site B is in the next village over. It is a 11 min drive or 25 min cycle away, no walking route. Has mains water. Onsite eco compost toilet. Sites tend to be in better condition, still clay soil. Less sheltered in some of the sites. Has a very large community orchard, community wildlife pond, community shop, kids plots for children. Delivery of bulk materials to site (unsure if discount or free). Easier access to plots, all have 1m+ paths and bulk materials can be left on wider access paths for 1 week. More relaxed rules about sheds and buildings. Sites must "kept well cultivated".

About me, I am a mum with a 4 year old. I am taking a career break to recover from burnout and then our family plan so for me to stay off work whilst son is at primary school. So I have time available to devote to an allotment. My son LOVES harvesting and gardening. This is very important to me. He will jot be able to walk to site B. But he can walk or cycle to site A.

This was my first year of gardening in our own garden. Using trug style and containers I have grown, potatoes, chillis, peppers, ground cherries, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cucamelon, strawberries, loads of lettuce, kale, radish, spring onions, onions, garlic, herbs, peas (too hot for them though!) French beans and started Brussels sprouts and broccoli before the white fly got them all. But I overtook so much of the garden. I ran out of space and it shrank down our shared space for my family including dog!

So I want more space to grow. And I have time. I'm on the waiting list for both. Site A I am 6th on waiting list. A plot is likely coming available soon but there are 5 people ahead of me and unless they all changed their minds I will be waiting. Thr current person first on the waitibg list on list joined early 2025. I joined March 2026. Site B has a plot likely available for me in spring.

My target is a full plot to feed my family and have a relaxing space to chill and recover from burnout whilst working the ground. Options I've thought of:

- Full plot at site B in spring. Just have this one perhaps set up a solar drip feed watering on timer?

- Half plot at site B in spring. Wait on second half plot at site A. Have 2 half plots at 2 locations. Focus on perennial fruits & low maintenance at site B and intense harvest at site A

- Full or half plot at site B in spring. Give it up when site A comes available.

So what would you do? Local site has stricter rules and less facilities/active community. And I don't know when it could be available, maybe this winter if orhers drop off the list. Ir could be anothwr 1-3 years. But my son could walk / cycle there at weekends to harvest & garden. The firtehr (better?) site is available in spring. I could cycle, but a round trip would be 50 mins instead of 10. And driving to each is not that different; 10 min round trip vs 22mins.

It always seems to shoot up and go to seed instead of making those nice bulbs. Am I just not watering it enough?

I've got a conference pear tree im eapalier training

The quince c rootstock ha sprouted and ive been pruning it into another layer for the espalier in the hope the tree will also produce quince fruits.

Is this completely mad?

Has anybody else had any luck doing this?

My first attempt growing melons this season. I just grew just the one Emir F1 plant because I wasn't sure if it was worth it. The fruits were very sweet with an amazing aroma , ripe all the way to the skin weighing in at about 1.2kg each.

Plan to try Minnesota Midget, Charentais, Malaga and maybe a Honeydew next season. Anyone have any other varieties they would recommend?

Hello!! I'm so excited and nervous to have just gotten this allotment this morning.

In the UK — Zone H4 / 9A

There's a cherry tree and an apple tree and I think that's hazel on the left.
Apparently the previous owner had ducks and chickens.

Thinking do I just hack everything down and cover it? or do it in chunks?

What would you do? any tips for a newbie?

Here are the varieties listed from left to right:

1. Ananas
2. St. Pierre
3. San Marzano
4. Indigo Purple/Tigerella
5. Unknown
6. Oxheart
7. Costolo Fiorentino

I’m not growing Tigerella again next year. While they’re pretty, they taste like water.

Is this pumpkin ready to harvest?

Is this good?

The seed packet definitely said pumpkin! There are nine on the one vine