Advice for starting an allotment

Before the pink paint even came out, we did our homework! When we started, we looked closely at the existing soil, sorted out where the sun came round, and figured out the direction of the wind. We carefully thought about what we wanted to grow and when, factoring in all the crop rotation implications to keep the ground healthy. Flowers were also vitally important to our vision, ensuring the plot would be buzzing with life. All of this careful observation is what ultimately helped us realize the original ground wouldn't quite work, beautifully paving the way for our custom pink raised beds.

If you are starting your own allotment from scratch, we would highly advise thinking about what you want to grow for the coming year, but also what you want to grow the following year for crop rotation. It’s so important to map out which plants you are growing in the sun and track where the shadows fall. Choosing raised beds is another tip we swear by; they allow you to get to your crops easily and comfortably from all sides, without having to step over a lot of paths or compact your soil.

Thinking a year or two ahead for crop rotation helps you plan out which vegetables you are growing in an area to maximise your space, and raised beds are a total game-changer for avoiding that awkward "allotment twister" game of trying not to step on your crops!

When we started our allotment, the people at the allotment welcomed us in and imparted valuable advice and knowledge from their years of building their own allotments.  Embrace their knowledge, they are familiar with the site and will give you guidance on what grows well and which direction to grow it in if your site is windy!