001: THE ALLOTMENT DIARIES
A new series chronicling the adventures of plot 40A
Today we’ve broken ground on our new allotment plot in Somerset. 40A. It’s tucked down the left-hand-side of the site, up against a little wildlife garden the previous owners of the plot had cultivated. Under our predecessors, the plot comprised eight low-level beds, demarcated by planks of wood that were stood upright and held in place with pegs. They also left behind a metal shed and some eight-year-old asparagus plants. We’ve been on the waiting list for this allotment site for four years(!) so it’s good to know we’ve not been the only ones biding our time.
We went to see the plot with the allotment inspector for the first time last week. At that meeting, the previous owner also rocked up, wanting to do a verbal handover. It was a surprisingly awkward and emotional meeting, which began with him detailing all the crops they’d planted. ‘I can’t tell you what a wonderful place this is. We’re devastated to be leaving’ he said, glancing somewhat longingly at his gooseberry bushes. Reading between the lines, his co-owner has fallen ill which means they are leaving the area and their plot behind. I felt sad for them, but glad about the asparagus. The plot was ours if we wanted it.
Unsurprisingly we jumped at the chance—and we now have six months to demonstrate that we can look after it. I must admit that I am not particularly green fingered, but do love spending time on the allotment. Owen (OJB) is the keen gardener, and has always found a patch of earth to look after wherever we’ve lived. (I tend to kill stuff.) When we were living in North London we once had a shared allotment plot in Tottenham, which was overlooked by a mid-rise council block and geographically not very convenient, but nevertheless a godsend during lockdown. RIP Tottenham Kale. Long live 40A.
The plot costs £45. Per year! The former owners wanted £100 for the shed, which is still a bargain considering that it was less than 12 months old. We’ve also inherited a rotating water-caddy which should come in helpful as there is no mains water access on site.
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Today was the first proper day we’ve had available to get anything done. Despite the best efforts of our predecessors, we have decided to mostly start from scratch, leaving just the asparagus and some fruit bushes intact. My father and mother-in-law generously helped level the plot this morning, which didn’t actually take too long as most of the wooden beds were starting to rot. Our two-year-old loves being on the allotment and doing her own ‘digging’. Serious business. The baby just laughs and tries to put grass in his mouth.
Just before lunchtime, our neighbouring plot-holder Fred* appeared, sheepishly returning to his patch after a period of neglect. The allotment inspectors had given him a yellow card, which meant he had a month to get things in order before he’d be booted off. So he was busy planting his potato crop, and anything else relatively low-maintenance. ‘Don’t bother with lettuces!’ he said. ‘Too many rabbits for that.’ I nodded, thinking the lettuce was actually one of the only crops I actually fancied planting. But what do I know! Fred reckons radishes grow well.
By the end of our time there today the plot looked dramatically different. Gone were the higgledy-piggeldy beds which didn’t make the most of our site - in their place now sit two large beds with a path that runs down the middle. According to OJB, efficient planting is the name of the game.
Allotment plots hold so much promise, especially at this time of year, and I’m looking forward to sharing our allotmenting adventures with you. Expect a new entry most Sunday evenings.
P.S. I’d love to have any tips on what we should be planting this late in the sowing season!
Thanks for reading.
*names changed to protect identities
THE ALLOTMENT DIARIES is a new series from Grace Pengelly, author of The Murmuration. To receive all her writing hit the subscribe button below.
How exciting! I just had to handover my plot, and was sad because I loved having it. It was my haven during lockdowns and kept getting me outside listening to the birds. I was looking to see if I could figure out which location your plot is in - I hope you have a water supply.
I did well with beetroot, chard and rocket- I think you should be able to plant all of those. Lettuce need a lot of watering over the summer, so may depend on how far you have to go to do it whether it’s worth it. The rocket was less needy!
Potatoes are good as they’re so low maintenance- keep your eye out for the potato seed swap, and have you found the seed library? Loads of free local harvested seeds which means they’re more likely to thrive in the soil. Have fun with it!!
Sow some beetroot (if you like it) - we always sow too much but our freezer is full of beetroot apple and ginger soup so maybe it’s never too much.