| A leading question for 2025 and plot 17 was, ‘How do we make our allotment garden more productive?’ We have had to review and question everything we practised to make the allotment more efficient and produce higher yields. We dedicated ourselves to endless research in our quest for knowledge. We delved into articles and videos, exploring experimental systems and methods, to equip ourselves with the most valuable techniques. As we look forward to the upcoming year, I will be sharing content posts on some of our most exciting findings and how they were put into practice in our allotment’s reality. These include bio-intensity, permaculture, and no-dig gardening methods. However, l will outline the seven basic formulas for change here. The main changes to be introduced to Plot 17 were from the following categories: planning, soil improvement, improved space efficiency, experimental ideas, and increasing sustainable practices. |
| 1] Improving soil health and quality One of the most significant changes we have been working on for the last few months has involved removing the inherited soils from the previous allotmenteer. Suze and I took the plot on in September 2022 and knew then that the soil quality was exceedingly poor. However, we used it for the seasons of 2023 and 2024 but decided to work on it over the winter. We have achieved this by adding organic mixtures such as compost and manures to boost fertility and improve soil structure and microbial activity. Once we start to sow for 2025, we will no longer have to dig the beds over but add mulches, which will continue to feed the soil and act as weed suppressors and moisture retainers. In the annual beds that will not hold perennial crops once the seasons are over, we plan to sow clover or mustard as an overwintering green crop to improve structure and soil nutrients. |
| 2] Planting Scheduling For 2023-2024, we had planting schedules and exercised crop rotation where necessary. This will continue from 2025 onwards, albeit significantly reduced due to our planned perennial farming requirements; however, we will still have a 15% presence of annual crops. Rotating crops works towards preventing soil depletion and blights. We are introducing the new mini-bed for 2025, which will allow us to sow new crops more frequently and incorporate succession planting techniques. This means we can have a continuous supply of fresh produce throughout the year. Also, even though we will be working with 85% perennial crops, we plan to introduce more companion gardening techniques within the food forest environment, which will further enhance the productivity of our allotment. |
| 3] Working with improved space efficiency The new layout of Plot 17 will enable us to introduce more space-efficient gardening practices such as, where applicable, micro-gardening vertical deep grower raised beds. This will further allow us to improve the drainage of the soils and extend the growing seasons, as well as allow for continued soil improvements and eradicate soil erosion issues that Plot 17 had been experiencing. These new ‘tower beds’ were first introduced to my readership a few years back. They are essentially raised beds with a deep growing space, allowing for better root development and improved soil aeration. Coupled with worm farming techniques, these beds will aid us in achieving improved yields, making them a valuable addition to our allotment. |
| 4] Seasonal Extenders Last year [2024], we used our polytunnel for the first time and saw first-hand what it could deliver. So, this year, we plan to have a more productive planting schedule for it and to continue reaping the benefits longer into the growing year. We are also introducing tabled cold frames, which can protect crops from severe weather fronts like frost. |
| 5] Watering, Feeding and Fertilising Utilities One of the most significant issues we experienced last year was the need for watering and how we had to continually travel down to the allotment to water crops by hand, which was awkward when time was tight or restricted by our work. So, from 2025, we have newer systems to introduce to the Plot 17 space to make our tasks more manageable. These will be introduced properly this Spring as rainwater collection to reduce our dependency upon piped-in water supplies, which are more harmful to our crops. We will also start to work with more liquid feeds – such as compost teas, nutrient boosts and fertilisers. Also, this year, more solar or battery-operated drip feeding and irrigation systems, working off independent water barrels, will be introduced. |
| 6] Natural Pest Control Continuing from each preceding year to date, we will continue to work with companionisation techniques that further allow for the introduction of natural pollination and pest deterrents and controls through plants and flowers. Furthermore, by ensuring we have our perennial planting schedules correct from the start, we should be able to reduce weed populations naturally. |
| 7] Crop Choices This year, we plan to grow 85% perennial crops and only 15% annual crops, of which the latter will be 10% fixed crops and 5% succession crops. The beauty of growing perennials is that they offer the grower multiple harvests instead of a single harvest for annuals. |
| Of course, everything is one big learning curve. However, we are committed to continuing our experiments until we find what works best for us. |
Earthly Comforts 
What I really admire about you guys is your wonderful planning and dedication.
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Thanks Sadje 🙂
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You’re welcome ☺️
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