Fuel your passion for gardening with an allotment
If you live in a flat or only have a small outdoor area, an allotment is a great way to get valuable gardening space at little cost.
- How can I get an allotment?
- How much do allotments cost?
- Choosing an allotment plot
- There isn’t an allotment near me
- Clearing a new plot
- What should I grow?
- When to sow the seeds?
- Useful links
How can I get an allotment?
Local councils usually deal with the allocation of allotments so a call to yours is the best place to start. They will be able to give advice on the nearest allotments to you and whether space is available.
There are also some privately owned allotments. Your council or library should have details of who to contact.
How much do allotments cost?
Depending on where you live, allotments can cost anything from £6 to £50 per year for a plot of about 9m by 6m (30ft by 20ft). Most also have concessionary rates for older, disadvantaged or unemployed people – check with your local council to see if this applies to your area.
Choosing an allotment plot
It’s always a good idea to talk to the neighbouring plot-owners to see what they are like. Other things to take into consideration are:
- The location. Is the plot within walking distance? The best plots are close to home meaning you can walk there in your wellies!
- The soil. Test the ground for workability with a fork first.
- Weeds. Unless you want a challenge, it’s better to opt for a plot that is not covered in weeds.
- Nearby plots. Developed plots surrounding your plot will help reduce problems with weeds.
- Water sources. Save lugging around heavy watering cans by making sure there is a tap or water source nearby. If there is no tap, invest in a water butt and collect rainwater to use on the allotment during dry spells.
Find out more about choosing an allotment plot.
There isn’t an allotment near me
Local councils are obliged to provide allotment space for residents. If there isn’t one near you, you can submit an application for an allotment. The application needs to be from six local residents all of whom are council tax payers. Each of the six will need to write a formal letter to the council. You can download an allotment application letter from the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners. Copy all the letters and send one batch of six by recorded delivery and hand deliver the other batch, with at least two witnesses present.
For more information visit the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
Clearing a new plot
The chances are your new plot will have been left empty for a few months, giving weeds the opportunity to take over. The first thing to do is to look at which weeds are growing as different weeds indicate different soil conditions, for example nettles, buttercups and daisies indicate acidic soil. You can get a full list of weed types and their soil indicators here. Weeds often have deep roots so chopping them above ground won’t get rid of them. The weeds are able to grow from a root fragment, so you need to dig deep to pull the weed out from the roots.
Find out more about clearing a new plot.
What should I grow?
Most allotment owners wish to grow their own food to save money on their shopping bills and reduce their carbon footprint. There are lots of different fruit, vegetables and herbs that will successfully grow in UK soils. If you are a beginner, spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, cress, courgette, beans, lettuce, carrot, strawberries and raspberries are good to start. These are all pretty self-sufficient and don’t require attention everyday. You can usually get away with just throwing on a few slug pellets and watering occasionally.
Read guides on growing your own fruit and vegetables
Read our ‘Grow your own herbs’ feature
When to sow the seeds?
A growing calendar can help you plan when to sow your seeds. You can use online growing calendars – such as
this one from GrowVeggies.net. Or use the seed packets to find out the best time to plant the seeds and create you own.
Another great resource is the
Gardener's Calendar. This site gives advice on which jobs to carry out in the garden/allotment each month.
Useful links
Visit the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
Get a full list of weed types and their soil indicators here
Find out more about clearing a new plot
Read guides on growing your own fruit and veg
Read our ‘Grow your own herbs’ feature
Vegetable and fruit growing calendar
Monthly jobs for the garden/allotment
