Allotment growing and gardening can be a therapeutic hobby, and if done right, it can also become a successful side hustle.
Everyone needs to start somewhere when it comes to gardening. You can start as small as growing herbs and microgreens in your kitchen window or go all in and rent an allotment in your local parish.
As a first-time gardener, you will probably have only a surface-level understanding of growing. Even with years of experience, it can be difficult to know everything that is there to know. A good way to note down all your experiences and keep track is to maintain an allotment diary, including details like what worked and what didn’t.
Whether this is your first time growing something in your garden, or you have had some nominal success, it can feel overwhelming with the abundance of information on the internet. Through our collective growing experience, we have collated information that no one tells you about gardening. Let’s begin.
1. Start Small
Your growing journey doesn’t need to start with renting an allotment. That is a big commitment that you may not be ready for. Instead, if you have some open space in your house, build a kitchen garden. Or if you live in a flat, container growing using pots or grow bags might be a good idea.
Microgreens and herbs are a good place to start. They can even be grown in egg crates or seed trays. They are also good for succession planting; you can keep growing them throughout the year. Fresh herbs can be great additions to any dish, from soups to salads to roasts. And when freshly grown, they just taste infinitely better.
If you are just starting out, keep your investments small and go for a watering can, while more experienced and professional gardeners can opt for an automatic watering irrigation system. It is about knowing the balance and making the right choices along the way.
2. Tending To a Garden Is More Than Just Mowing
Is your idea of tending a garden limited to mowing it every month? To get a thriving garden, remember to check for weeds, fallen leaves, dead plants or pests. Weeds drain the soil of its nutrients, making it difficult for your crops to thrive. Dead plants are not just aesthetically displeasing but can also attract pests. Instead, put them in a composting bin, where they can be turned into organic manure.
The way you care for your lawn will change with the seasons. Harvest any crops in autumn, till the ground, and cover it with mulch in preparation for the upcoming winter. Spring garden care will include planting seeds, adding compost and manure, and caring for young plants as they germinate. A seed of the month club subscription is a practical way to try different plant varieties and keep your garden changing throughout the year.
3. Turn Kitchen Essentials Into Gardening Essentials
Those everyday kitchen staples can also be used in your garden. Wondering, how? Salt isn’t just a great seasoning; it can be a good pest killer. However, remember to use it in moderation, or it might kill more than just weeds. Make a mixture of salt, vinegar and dish soap, and spray it on the weeds sparingly. Too much salt can prevent osmosis in plants and kill them.
Tea leaves are also a favourite among professional gardeners. All you need to do is add fresh tea leaves around the base of your plant. You can even mix it in your compost bin.
Bananas aren’t just good for you but for your rose bushes as well. After you’ve eaten the fruit, chop up the peel and add it to the base of your rose bushes. It acts as a deterrent for aphids.
4. Be Present
A thriving garden needs constant maintenance and care. You cannot simply plant some seeds, water them occasionally and forget about them. As a present plant parent, you will need to tend to them every single day. This will allow you to notice any diseases or pests affecting your crop early.
Timely intervention can help you save your plants. You also get to learn about your crops when you take care of them regularly, understanding when they bloom, the kind of feed they need and more. This makes it a great learning opportunity, helping you in your future growing endeavours.
5. Model Your Growing Season On Your Region’s Microclimate
Do you think the growing season is limited only to spring and autumn? You might be only partially correct. Your growing season is directly related to your region’s microclimate. For example, people in the southern parts of the UK can actually grow throughout the year with minimal protection during winter, as temperatures are milder and frost days are less frequent.
In the north, you may not be able to start planting until late spring, when the ground finally thaws and the last of the frost passes. The growing season is much shorter. Greenhouses, polytunnels, horticulture cloches and fleece, and growing lights are all great ways to extend your growing season.
Overwintering, hardy variants can also be harvested later during December or January. You can get a head start on your plants by sowing them early indoors or in containers. This enables you to transplant them outdoors (only after hardening them off) once the weather turns warm.
In Conclusion…
Plants can bring immense joy, watching them grow from tiny seeds into flourishing plants bearing fruits, flowers or vegetables. Planting and growing also allows you to spend time outdoors, something that modern lifestyles often don’t permit.
Growing your own vegetables and fruits brings immense satisfaction, allows you to eat healthy and organic, reduces your grocery spending and teaches you important life skills like patience and time management.
Growing vegetables takes immense patience and effort. Some plants take much longer to mature and harvest than others, such as Brussels sprouts, leeks, potatoes and pumpkins. If you want faster gratification, consider growing lettuce, spinach, baby carrots and beetroot.
We’ve spoken about some unique tips that nobody usually discusses. However, remember every growing journey is different. While our article serves as a guide, it depends on your seed and soil quality and plant care, which determine the yield you get.
