What to buy for your first allotment, and what to wait for
Published 14 October 2026
What a full plot measures, what to check before taking one, and the tools and kit worth buying in year one, based on RHS and GOV.UK guidance.
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Writing
Notes from the plot
Sowing calendars, soil, shade and what to do about the watering.
Practical guides and tips to help you plan, plant and enjoy your garden all year round.
Autumn jobs for the allotment and vegetable garden
Published 14 October 2026
Leaf mould, garlic, overwintering broad beans and tool care: what to do in October and November, with RHS spacings, depths and timings.
Read more →Beginner's Guide to Starting a Vegetable Garden in the UK
Published 10 January 2026
I killed approximately everything my first year and came back for more. Here's everything a beginner needs to know: soil, sunlight, slugs, and which crops are basically impossible to mess up.
Read more →Low-Maintenance Garden Ideas for Busy UK Homeowners
Published 25 January 2026
My garden used to be a second job. Then I redesigned for low maintenance and it looks better than ever with a fraction of the effort. Here's how to reclaim your weekends.
Read more →Small Garden Design: Making the Most of a Compact UK Garden
Published 8 February 2026
My garden is tiny. Really tiny. But after a few years of experimenting, it's become my favourite room. Vertical planting, visual tricks and smart plant choices that make small spaces shine.
Read more →A Month by Month UK Sowing and Planting Calendar
Published 3 June 2026
What to sow indoors, what to sow outside and what to harvest in every month of the year, built from RHS crop guides. Plus the two things a calendar cannot know: how far north you are, and how warm your soil actually is.
Read more →Know Your Soil: Identifying It, Testing It and Improving It
Published 24 June 2026
Clay, sand, silt, chalk or loam, told apart in two minutes by rolling a handful in your hand. What each one needs, exactly how much compost a 3m by 3m bed takes, and why improving heavy clay is a five year job rather than a weekend one.
Read more →Aspect and Shade: Working With the Light You Actually Have
Published 22 July 2026
Light is the one thing you cannot buy. The RHS shade categories by hours of direct sun, how to map your own garden in a single day, which crops still crop in three hours, and why the same spot frosts every year.
Read more →Watering, Drought and Storing Rainwater in a UK Garden
Published 19 August 2026
Most people water too often and not enough. Why a deep soak beats a daily splash, what genuinely needs watering, how to size a water butt against your roof and your beds, and why hosepipe restrictions are never national.
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