I’ve been keeping a photo log of my various allotments since 2006. This could be why I’m taking far fewer photographs; I’m still delighted with my harvests of fat, perfectly formed blueberries and pods of peas but I don’t need any more photos and I’m sure you don’t need to see any more. This is a dilemma – what’s a blog without the picture or three?

I had intended to write a post about last year, but we’re 9 days into 2025 and 2024 is already yesterday’s chip wrapping. So onwards with plans for this shiny new year.

In their wisdom Pantone have selected a shade of orange as the colour for 2025. I’m either out of sync or ahead of the curve, but I’ve had my orange phase…

Plans for the allotment this year

Improve the soil – we have regular deliveries of horse manure at various stages of maturity. I store it for a year and spread over the beds in the winter. I have a bulk bag full of cooked compost ready to be added to beds. This goes on empty beds so I can hoe off the weeds as they sprout. I call them green manure 🙂 The beds always look sharp and fresh with their thick mulch coats on.

Finish cultivating behind the blueberry cage – This is a large space, 5m x 3m with lots of potential I just need to finish digging out the nasties – about half left to go. I also need to organise a waste removal for this grot pile left by previous tenants.

Decide how to use this new space – It is in sun for most of the day and borders an access path and is the end of the plot closest to the road just beyond the hedge line. I’m leaning towards it becoming my flower farm, which may mean relocating the roses and peonies later in the year. I’ll start with the annuals and dahlias and progress from there. I’m not one for fencing in allotments, but I think I’ll add a pallet fence between the end of the plot and the path.

Build raised beds – None of my beds on this plot have wooden edges and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how easy it’s been to maintain. At the other end of the plot by the blueberry cage is a space where I tried (again) to grow strawberries in grow bags and set up potato bags, which were more successful than I’d expected. This area is covered with weed membrane – it had been used as a communal dumping ground and bonfire site, so I prefer to grow on top rather than in it. I’ll need to make two double-height beds, 6ft x 4ft for a carrot, parsley, parsnip type rotation and find another sunnier spot for the strawberry plants.

That’s me at the plot, what are your plot plans for 2025?