Welcome to Sprout Share

Beginner Allotment Gardening in the UK

Hi, I’m Devon,

Excited new allotment holder.

I’ve spent years keeping houseplants alive, only to discover that allotment gardening in the UK is a whole different kind of adventure.

Here on SproutShare, I’m sharing everything I research along the way: from finding your first plot to planting your first seeds, and eventually building a community of fellow growers.

Stick around for timely tips and seasonal ideas from planting to harvest, tool recommendations, and updates from our plot.

Beginner Guides, Blogs, Articles for Allotment Gardening

Welcome to our growing blog, a mix of short articles and in‑depth guides focused on UK allotment and vegetable gardening. Whether you’re just starting out or building your gardening skills, you’ll find something practical and well researched.

See our most recent below.

Easy August Allotment Jobs (UK): What to Sow, Harvest and Prepare Now

A practical guide to August allotment jobs across the UK. Learn what to sow, harvest, and prepare now to keep your plot productive through late summer and into autumn.

The Ultimate Easy Soil Prep Guide, The big 3: Dig vs No-Dig vs Mulch Explained

Build healthy soil the natural way: add compost, avoid compaction, and use no‑dig or lightly turned beds. This full guide helps new growers get the foundation right for every season.

Got Your First Allotment? These Tasks Will Set You Up for Success

Start off strong with smart first steps: surveying your plot, meeting fellow growers, planning water access, and clearing space. Practical moves to set your plot up right.

Got Your First Allotment? These Tasks That Will Set You Up for Success

Allotment Layout Planning: Proven Steps for Maximum Yield

Design your plot for success with our simple 7‑step layout plan. Learn seasonal beds, crop rotation, efficient paths, and planting zones to help you grow more with less effort.

7 Essential Steps to Plan Your Allotment Layout for Maximum Yield

Allotment Diaries

We got an allotment and have been filming the process

We wanted to share the process of our allotment journey.

Enter the Allotment Diaries. We are doing the homework but the real joy comes from the doing. Getting our hands dirty, and figuring it out as we go along.

Sure its not always pretty, but we are making sure to never let perfection get in the way progress.

Check out the full channel below.

Back to B&Q, I’ve got some more plants to get in the ground. In this vid, I pull back the tarp to find lots of potatoes, nails, and glass. Once the ground is cleared, it was then dug up, mixed with fresh compost and covered with weed membrane. On the Edges I’ve planted some chrysanthemums for the bees, some lemon balm, some strawbs. In the middle, I’m trying a technique that I’m not entirely sure will work. I’ve cut slits and holes through out for a row of spinach and rocket, and then dotted raddish about. Who knows what will happen!

Breaking Ground! We’ve got the allotment, and this is us figuring it out as we go. The plan was to start slow, but once we were there, it made more sense to just get stuck in.

First steps! We are using tarps to cover the weeds and measuring so we can plan what we are going to grow. Looks like we have also found some ants!

First look at the space, a bit of the story behind how we found it (spoiler: completely by chance). It’s full of potential and we’re cautiously optimistic.

Day 1, i’m determined to be creative! This channel follows that process. From starting an allotment to figuring out how to grow, make, and share all while learning as I go.

Garden Centre

Explore tools, seeds, gear, books and more.

We’ve created a small Garden Centre

Every product is vetted before recommendation and we only list gear that’s been heavily reviewed for quality and reliability.

By sharing affiliate links, we can earn a small commission on sales at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep building Sprout Share, sharing the journey, and growing our content; and it means you’re truly part of it.

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For now we partner with Amazon, but in time we are hoping to work with local brands and suppliers!

Check out some of our favourites or click the button to check out the full page

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Thank you for your support.

Favourites

Tools

Ten essential tools to cover all your digging and planting needs.

Seeds

70 Varieties of Flower, Herb, Vegetable Seeds

Watering

A larger can for fewer refills and better reach.

Compost

Great for potting up or starting new beds with ease.

Bark

Decorative bark that also helps fight weeds.

Weed Membrane

Lay down before planting to help stop weeds at the root.

FAQ

Quick and easy, questions answered

1. What is an allotment and how can I get one in the UK?

An allotment is a rented piece of land—often provided by local councils or community groups—where you can grow fruit, vegetables, herbs or flowers. To get started, join your local council’s waiting list early and make sure your application stays up to date. Visit our Finding an Allotment in the UK guide to see how we secured ours.

2. How do I clear and prepare an overgrown plot?

Tackling weeds and couch grass can seem daunting. Try covering areas with cardboard or weed-suppressing membrane and layering compost on top. This slows weeds and starts rebuilding the soil. In cleared sections, the no-dig method helps you plant sooner. See our soil prep guide for step-by-step help.

3. What tools do I actually need when starting out?

Start small with essentials: a spade or fork, gloves, watering can and seed trays. There’s no need to buy expensive tools upfront. In our Garden Centre, we recommend gear wthat is highly reviewed, items that help you grow confidently without overspending.

4. What are the best planting methods for beginners?

No-dig and mulch layering methods are beginner-friendly. They build soil health, reduce weeding and ease strain on your back. Our No‑Dig Gardening for Beginners guide walks through how to set it up in plain language using low-cost materials.

5. How can I manage pests naturally on my plot?

Slugs, aphids and other pests are common, but there are effective natural methods to manage them. Think companion planting, homemade traps and physical barriers. Explore our Organic Pest Control in UK Gardens guide for practical, chemical-free solutions that actually work.

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