/r/Allotment

Photograph via snooOG

Get the most out of your bit of nature.

A subforum for all Allotment, Veg Patch & Gardens.

/r/Allotment

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68

Weekly allotmenting discussion. What have you been up to?

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.

35 Comments
2025/02/03
10:00 UTC

8

what brand 4 wheeled trolley/cart things are you using?

due to a terrible back injury we need a cart if im gonna get anything done this year.

what brand cart are you using?

i want one with big wheels cause they look cool.

21 Comments
2025/02/01
18:25 UTC

2

Solar advice, tips, and tricks

I’m hoping to set up a solar system at our full plot. I have been given 2x200W panels, controller, and some 12V batteries.

One of my main concerns if theft - it happens now and then at our allotment so I would want to secure the panels enough that it’s real hassle trying to get them off. They’re not worth that much, it’s more that I don’t want to have to rebuild.

I’m thinking about using some of the power to run a pump from water collection from polytunnel to a raise IBC or barrel so we can use the pressure for irrigation.

I’d also like to do some basics like lighting.

Finally I will get an IoT SIM card and set up a small security system, really just want to have door sensors on shed and tunnel, maybe a proximity sensor in each, and a webcam. Could have an alarm rigged up too.

8 Comments
2025/02/01
17:23 UTC

6

Watering with manure slurry dilute - how often?

I saw on 'the wartime kitchen and garden' that they watered crops with a manure slurry - how often do people do that? Only once a year?

I have limitless access to horse muck and this year really trying to fix my allotments issues lol

I have had a google but can't seem to find anything, a firsthand account would be great?

11 Comments
2025/02/01
16:35 UTC

2

Tips on a polytunnel irrigation system

Hi,

I've been given some kit for an irrigation system - its two battery-powered kingfisher timers and lots of tubing. The person who gave it to me said he used this on his allotment with water butts, by building a stand about 4 feet high for the water butts. The height gave him the pressure needed to make it run/ Because there's two timers I'm assuming he used one per water butt.

My polytunnel is 3x4m, so fits about 20 summer plants (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers etc - keen to try melons this year!) so each timer would need to water ten plants.

Has anyone done anything similar? Any tips? Did it work? How high were you water butts?

8 Comments
2025/02/01
14:23 UTC

8

Allotment sizes

I’m just interested to know how big all your allotments are as I see lots of various sizes we have a full plot and it’s roughly 17m x 22m

21 Comments
2025/01/30
23:43 UTC

9

What’s your seed set-up?

After a bad year last year, I want to have everything set perfect this year (yeah right!)

So, what are you doing from soil, pot type, through to what it’s all sat on and how it’s racked up.

14 Comments
2025/01/30
10:34 UTC

6

Allotment boundary

Hi all, I live in a house whose garden shares a boundary with an allotment. The fence is in disrepair. I'd like to get the boundary reestablished properly. Would I have to go through the council?

Please advise. Not looking for a dispute just a reestablished boundary.

Thanks

Edit: It is privately managed but owned by the council.

10 Comments
2025/01/29
21:50 UTC

10

Cheap way to replace broken greenhouse panes

I have a greenhouse with 6 x 61cm square broken glass panes. If I get cut to size polycarbonate online at 3mm the total inc delivery is £150.

Any suggestions for doing this cheaper?

We have exhausted the very short term solution of taping up the cracks and using bin bags. It’s dangerous and we need to sort it but money is tight! Thanks

20 Comments
2025/01/28
17:42 UTC

8

Hi everyone. Going to try a few different varieties of chilli this year. Any tips/things to look out for?

24 Comments
2025/01/28
10:02 UTC

10

How do you rotate crops when you have a brassica cage?

As the question says… if you have a cage for brassicas, do you move the cage to a different spot on the plot each year? If not, what do you do?

17 Comments
2025/01/28
07:37 UTC

4

February Sowing

Our first full year on the plot and we're in the process of deciding what to start in the polytunnel! What's everyone else up to?

8 Comments
2025/01/27
21:41 UTC

8

Weekly allotmenting discussion. What have you been up to?

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.

32 Comments
2025/01/27
10:00 UTC

7

10 gallon and 5 gallon pots.

Im planning to have 2x 10 gallon pots to grow carrots and spring Oinion, hoping to stagger somehow for a steady supply!

2x5 gallon pots for a tomato plant in each, could i get 2 in one pot? Planing to stick a marigold in too

Then another 2x 5 gallon pots for a cucumber in each pot, or could i get 2 in one pot?

Do these pot sizes seem reasonable for what im planning? Haven't got alot of space unfortunately

2 Comments
2025/01/26
20:39 UTC

1

Dirt for greenhouse!

I put our greenhouse (8 x 6) under Plastic sheet & a shed base, as there are known weeds in the area.

What is the best way to fill it? / cost effective. I dont have anyway to collect free soil, etc. myself at the moment from facebook, etc. - any ideas? I could dig dirt from elsewhere in my allotment if really needed, but I would then need to buy wood or something to hold back where I would dig from (allotment has a slope) - so not sure if buying wood is as cost effective as buying soil.

9 Comments
2025/01/26
09:59 UTC

2

Fastest growing plants

Hi all,

Was lucky to get an allotment in November in Devon. Unfortunately I move away end of August so was wondering - what are the fastest fruit/veg I could grow to make the most out of my time with the plot?

Thanks

6 Comments
2025/01/25
14:22 UTC

6

Recommended online seed sources

Im planning for planting soon, I used to get a lot of my seeds from wilko, I know the range has some of their lines. So was thinking of online but only bought a few packs. I need a load of tomato and sweet corn in particular - anyone you would recommend ??

26 Comments
2025/01/25
12:57 UTC

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