April allotment tour, all planted and plenty to harvest | year round self-sufficiency

After much debate, I’ve finally decided to offer users of my gardening apps, eBook, web site, diary and my youtubers the opportunity to support me via the site Buy Me a Coffee. Thanks so much for all of your support!

If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We live in the north west of England, in Lytham St Annes, which I believe is the equivalent of USA Zone 8. The garden is about ½ a mile from the sea, the allotment about a mile, it’s fairly mild, but very windy.

We used to have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife's (Debbie) and my middle daughter's (Jennie) and you will see these featured in many videos. We’ve recently handed Jennie’s back to the council as over the years we now grow more on the other two plots than we did on all three a few years ago. We also have a small kitchen garden at home.

All of the plots are managed in an integrated fashion, so don't expect to see the usual mix of veg on each plot. I do most of the planning and seed starting. We each have our own plots, but we all help each other out.

Debbie's plot is mostly full of perennials, it's an ornamental plot. We did a lot of work to keep the weeds down and Debbie's approach is inspired by the TV programme The Ornamental Kitchen garden.

My plot is all about experimental growing, maximum productivity and year round abundance. As with all of the other plots I did a lot of work to control the weeds, but it's a high maintenance plot. I'm always planting, harvesting, experimenting and generally having a great time.

Collectively the plots deliver an amazing abundance of fruit and veg all year round. Debbie, Jennie, Jon and I are effectively self sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit for much of the year. During winter we sometimes have enough surplus to feed our local family. During the rest of the year when the surplus from our house garden comes on stream we have surpluses in some crops for quite a few friends as well.

I do an update of the allotments, roughly twice a month, you can find the tours here:

Our approach to allotment life is to: grow as much as we possibly can, to be self-sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit in season, to give away our surplus to friends and family, and to have as much fun as possible. For more on self sufficiency check out these videos:

We are not slaves to gardening though, I spend about 12 hours a week on the plots (on average) Debbie and Jennie a lot less. We keep nudging that down as we eliminate non-productive work: like grass cutting, weeding and watering as much as practical. We are newbie gardeners, only starting the allotments in 2016.

I'm a bit obsessive about the nutrient density of the veg that we grow and making the plots easy to work because it's through this allotment lifestyle and food that I've overcome a debilitating auto-immune disease.

I'm always aware though that it might not last so I make sure that I don't work too hard, eat as much organic fruit and veg I can and design the plots so that I can still work them when I flare up.

[Cannad]

Once again a lovely chatty video, thank you.

[ronaldandsusanshaws-growing]

Hi Steve, A great tour, as usual your veggies look great, plenty of carrots on the go, my longest overwintering carrot I removed the other day, not brilliant but enough for the weekend's meals, Take care.

[bethanskitchengarden]

Great plot tour Steve, everything is looking so green and lush, even without any rain, amazing. Take care 😊

[tategrovegarden]

Another great video love how much you have growing 👍

[dn]

I allowed for slug damage and loss to my lettuce. This cold blast at night sure keeps them at bay, so only lost 2 plants, but now 240 ish all growing fast. Lots of give away lettuce for neighbours. Hardly lost a thing so far, good for plants, but never has so many survived, plus near 100% on germination. Saved seeds work much better. Know your soil condition as locked in its memory.

[TheEnglishladyskitchengarden]

This is better than watching Gardeners world. I learn so much every time I watch one of your videos. Do you save the seed from your sprouts or kale?

[Jill.Carter.]

I don't really know about plum trees, so this is anecdotal only but my Mother's plum tree which is several decades old does not flower every year and never has done, usually it's every other year but I do remember her saying that it has sometimes skipped two years. I believe it's a Victoria but it's so old now I'm not 100% sure.

[seanirishterrier]

My damson tree took 5yrs before it got its first flowers & fruit & hasn’t stopped since

[christinebrooks]

Great video, can I ask how you built your raised bed covers, looking at building some for my plot, thanks 🙂

[robinedwards]

Another interesting video Steve, thank you. One question I have, and it might be buried in a video somewhere and I missed it. How do you store all your bed top frames when removed. Have been thinking about making some but was wondering how much space they take up when removed. ATBest, Robin

[wendywilson]

Can we please have an update to the water but pump thankyou

[jacquieexpat]

Hi Steve. We moved into out house just over two years ago, the first year we had a great plum crop, last year nothing and this year I’ve got about 4 blossoms on it. It doesn’t look like it had more and the frosts got them, it’s just 4 flowers. No idea why so I’m sorry I can’t help you but you’re not the only one, maybe the weather?

[davidmills]

Plum trees take years to bloom then are very prolific

[markshaw]

With the sprout bed, would u start taking leafs of yhem at that size or smaller? Loved the tour, lots going on. Im already running out of space but i got loads of lettuce and spinach. Hoping ive timed its right for my tomato plants. I have 1 that nearly ready to go out maybe another week or so

[TuftyMcTavish]

🐦 I have a family of Blackbirds that enjoy nothing more than ripping up my mulched beds, and tearing out my Peas! So I might rob your idea of the shiny coke cans, as the bird assaults are starting to get annoying. My third year growing Peas, but this behaviour is new. Maybe a sign of the health of my beds now 🤷‍♂️

[dn]

Curious question. I also grow carrot in tubs, plus in the ground. Yet I don't find carrot fly an issue. I was told in the 70s to keep the wild cow parsley around the orchard edge for nature, plus he said I won't get carrot flies. Does this happen to anyone else. Luckily I can have a 10ft to 30 ft wide nature border.

[Jill.Carter.]

Steve, can I ask you a question about apple trees please? I bought a couple of yearling apple trees for my birthday this year on dwarfing stock to grow in large tubs and I've seen people saying to not let them fruit in their first year in order to strengthen the tree. Have you done this and found it to be worthwhile?

[rogerfosdike]

There’s a old saying Steve plant a plum for your son plant a Damson for your grandson