I'm a gooseberry lover and looking for a few more bushes. Last summer I saw a new one called Lady sun but unfortunately I didn't buy it, now I see there's another one with the name Lady late. Also I've been looking at Captivator and Ronja. Has anyone tried them or do you have recommendations? I have: Martlet Hinnonmäki red and green Invicta And an old Swedish heirloom Statsrådet von Ehrenheim.

I'm wanting to plant some raspberry, gooseberry and black currant plants. How many of each would you recommend getting? And how have you arranged these in your plots? Thanks!

I'm wondering where you guys have sourced garden hoops from for netting? I see these fibreglass ones that you connect together on eBay/AliExpress, does anyone have experience with these? Or would you recommend something sturdier? Is there some free/marketplace find option that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!

Part of my allotment has a pretty steep slope to it. Too steep to crop on. It had really tall nettles and dock weed on it that then seed all over the plot. Last summer I covered the slope with weed membrane and I am now ready to take it off.

I would like to plant something relatively fuss free to suppress weeds. And ideally something that is available relatively cheap as it is a sizeable area.

I was almost thinking just sowing grass on it as seed is cheap and survives winter and summer.

I also heard about ‘forage rye’. Not really sure what to pick.

Hi. I just want something that will grow quickly and look nice and full. Is Ivy a good choice? It’s a basic metal arch I have. Cheers!

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.

So the old guy who had the plot next door to me has been very poorly and his two sons have taken over the plot. Without meaning to be cruel they are definitely on a spectrum somewhere, both swear constantly and bicker like toddlers. I reckon they must be in their 30's, maybe a bit older. I've tried to engage with them but their social skills are obviously poor, I've strimmed around their plot boundary to keep the weeds down without even a word of thanks. I like to potter around my plot and engage with other plot holders but these two are seriously getting on my nerves. They just shout at each other and swear constantly.

How would anyone else approach this ? Would you talk to the committee or would it seem overly sensitive?

I was putting in some stakes today so I can tie back the raspberries and using a large wooden maul to drive them in, my dad mentioned that he had inherited it from his father who got it as a wedding present... back in 1924!!

Soon I'll be using the digging hoe to earth up the spuds, also my grandfathers that my dad remembers using as a boy so at least 80+ years old.

Finally we've got an old electric chipper/shredder I use regularly that my dad bought back in the 70's that's still going strong.

Anyone else got some really old tools that are going strong still?

Sorry if this a bit off-piste, but I've got a spare corner in my field I'm thinking of renting out as allotments (maybe 5-10 full plots or so, at least at first) Previous uses have been for horses but with no equestrian ties (hence still agricultural land)

I don't believe it would constitute a change of use, but I'm keen to hear others advice that have done this or are "renting" in a similar fashion from farmers or private land owners.

I'm not looking to rip people off and turn it into a big business, I'm hoping to learn some things myself and give others a chance to get started and hopefully provide some food security in these trying times.