The dry weather has arrived! Here is a realistic early May update on managing the watering runs, the patch of self-sown calendula that has taken over the plot, and turning our homegrown leeks, chard, and turnips into some brilliant spring dinners.
April has been insane, proving exactly why it's called 'gardening in the margins.' But despite the radio silence, the rhubarb has pushed the 2026 harvest half a kilo ahead of last year! Plus: turnip casualties, plot-to-plate pasta, and an 82p gooseberry bush.
I only had 40 minutes on the plot this weekend, and I arrived to find my brand-new brassica cage completely destroyed by the wind. After previously losing a polytunnel and a greenhouse to the weather, it was incredibly disheartening. But you can't let the wind win.
Allotment Life
March on the plot is 50% optimism and 50% mud. Between dodging the committee’s 'prowl' and unearthing a single 'volunteer' potato that’s pushed my harvest over the 1kg mark, it’s been a busy weekend. Here’s a look at brassica cages, saved seeds, and surviving the 9-5 gardening life.
Beginner Tips
Gardening shouldn't feel like a second job. If you're short on time, these 5 "set and forget" crops are your best friend for a productive, low-stress plot.
Allotment Life
From supermarket fruit trees to realizing I've been pruning my raspberries wrong for four years—here is the reality of early spring on a busy allotment.
Allotment Life
Forget what the textbooks say about spring cleaning. My beds look horrendous, but I’m ready to plant. Discover the 'lazy' reset secrets that focus on food, not perfection.
Beginner Tips
Stop worrying about the weeds and start focused on the food. Here is how I manage a high-yield plot while balancing a 9-to-5 and a family.