If you’re looking to start a new hobby this summer, then gardening is the perfect choice. Not only is this the perfect hobby to get you outside in the fresh air and pleasant sunshine, but it’s a great way to hone a new skill – one that can prove to be extremely rewarding!

This is even more so when you not only plant flowers and plants, but attempt to grow your own produce. From fruit and veg to herbs, there are many edible plants and crops that you can grow from scratch at home; the best bit? You get to reap the fruits of your labour afterwards – quite literally!

Not sure where to start? Keep reading as we discuss how to go about creating your own at-home allotment from scratch.

Benefits of Growing Your Own Allotment

Save Money

The great thing about growing your own produce, whichever crops you decide to focus on, is that this can save you money on your weekly food shop. By planting different seasonal produce throughout the year, you’ll be able to harvest these straight from your own garden ready to eat and incorporate into your recipes, rather than having to buy them from the supermarket!

Enjoy Organic Produce

Another benefit of planting your own produce is that you’ll get to enjoy organic, pesticide-free produce (without having to pay ‘organic’ prices). Food is far more nutritious when it’s both organic and locally sourced, compared to the processed and sometimes imported food that you’re more likely to get from the supermarket.

Furthermore, by sourcing your produce from your own garden, you’re reducing your carbon footprint, since no emissions have been released into the atmosphere from transporting it from the farm to the shop to your home.

Sense of Fulfilment

Gardening is an incredibly rewarding hobby. Not only is it a great form of low-impact activity, but getting you outside and moving around (don’t underestimate how much effort it can take!) can help reduce any stress and anxiety you may have.

It’s also a very fulfilling feeling being able to actually eat and enjoy your own home-grown produce, feeling satisfied that you’ve got to see it grow from start to finish thanks to your nurturing greenthumb.

Building a Home Allotment

Find a Plot

Before you start building your own allotment, you must first find a plot for it to go. You ideally want a spot that is:

• Sunny
• Away from shading trees
• Not shaded by buildings or large objects

Take a look around your garden space to see which area may best fit this criteria. If you can’t find a suitable area, then you’ll still be able to build your allotment in the next best spot, you just may have to consider which crops you plant later on based on which will thrive in the available conditions.

You’ll also want to think about space. Vegetable patches require more space than herbs do, whilst the space required for fruit sits somewhere between the two of these. Whether you’re only planning on planting one of these categories or all three will also affect the amount of space you’ll likely need for your allotment.

Plan the Layout

Once you’ve found an ideal spot in your garden to create your allotment, next you’ll want to plan out its layout.

The best way to approach this is to measure and map out the space you’ll be using. You then want to allocate spaces for beds and pathways between these. There are then certain things you’ll have to bear in mind when it comes to dimensions.

In terms of pathways, you’ll want these to be at least wide enough for you to walk down. If you plan on using a wheelbarrow when working on your allotment, then you’ll want any pathways to be wide enough for this to get down, too. You should also allow for pathways between beds, so that you can access each of them without having to walk on other beds and potentially damage your crops.

As for the beds themselves, their dimensions should be based on what you plan to grow in them. If you plan on planting multiple crops in the same bed, then you’ll want to ensure you leave enough space in between your plants and your raised beds will also need to be large enough to account for this.

Build Raised Beds

Using raised beds to grow your produce is beneficial for a number of reasons, such as offering improved soil quality, enhanced drainage, better weed control and easy accessibility, amongst others.

Timber is the most common material for making raised beds, although it’s important to note that it’s best to use treated timber boards, as these will have a longer life time, whereas untreated timber (such as recycled pallets or scaffold boards) has a shorter lifespan and may start to decompose. This can be prevented, however, by lining them with an old compost bag to prevent decomposition from leaching into the soil.

The materials you will need to build your raised beds, then will include:

• Timber boards
• Spade
• Spirit level
• Drill and screws
• Compost
• Sharp sand
• Topsoil

As for the process of building it, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Dig a shallow trench: mark out the shape of your bed to your desired dimensions, then dig a shallow trench that is wide enough to accommodate your timber boards.
2. Position the timbers: lay your timber boards into the trench and make sure they align horizontally using your spirit level.
3. Screw the timbers together: drill through the end timber into the sleeper behind (at the top and the bottom) at each corner of the bed.
4. Add the next layer: repeat the last step with a second layer of timbers, and any more until the bed reaches your desired height.
5. Prepare the bed: remove any turf and topsoil from the base of the bed, then lightly fork the soil underneath to loosen it. You can then fill this up (to around 2 inches below the rim) with a potting mixture of all purpose compost, sharp sand and topsoil – in a ratio of 3:2:7.
6. Wait: once your bed has been made and filled, you should firm down the soil and leave it to settle for a couple of weeks – topping up the level if necessary – before sowing or planting.

Plant Your Crops

Now that you’ve set up your allotment, it’s time to get planting!

The best way to decide what crops to plant is to not only think about which fruits, vegetables or herbs you enjoy and want to grow, but to also make yourself a growing calendar, so you know what to grow and when to make the most of your allotment throughout the different seasons.

Here are some different crops you could plant each season for inspiration:

• Spring:
  • Vegetables:
    • Spring onions
    • Spinach
    • Lettuces
    • Asparagus
  • Fruits:
    • Rhubarb
    • Strawberries
  • Summer:
    • Vegetables:
      • Tomatoes
      • Cucumbers
      • Runner beans
    • Fruits:
      • Strawberries
      • Raspberries
      • Blackberries
      • Gooseberries
    • Autumn:
      • Vegetables:
        • Carrots
        • Pumpkins
        • Parsnips
        • Leeks
      • Fruits:
        • Plums
        • Pears
        • Apples
      • Winter:
        • Vegetables:
          • Potatoes
          • Cabbages
          • Cauliflower
          • Brussel sprouts
        • Fruits:
          • Sloe berries
          • Hawthorn berries

Another consideration to make in order to make the most of the available space you have in your allotment is to think about companion planting. This is a technique whereby two or more plants are planted close to one another.

When you plant the right plants in close proximity together, they can actually help enhance each other’s growth. Depending on the plants in question, they can help one another with pest control, weed suppression and pollination, which ultimately improves crop productivity and can result in a greater yield.

Some examples of plants that you can plant together as part of this technique include:

• Broccoli and mint
• Leeks and carrots
• Courgettes and calendula
• Asparagus and tomatoes
• Cabbage and sage

Get Your Supplies Today

So, are you ready to start your home allotment? If you are, then get the supplies you need all in one place: Hales Sawmills.

Whatever products you need for your new allotment, we’ve got you covered; from treated timber panels to make your raised beds to compost, soil and all the tools you could need to optimise your gardening.

Browse our selections of products on our online store today, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions.