The Best Crops for First-Time Allotmenteers

Starting an allotment is rewarding, saving money and providing fresh food. Choose easy, high-yield crops you enjoy eating, and consider your plot’s sun or shade exposure for the best results.

Potatoes

Potatoes are an excellent crop for beginners. 

They are easy to grow,  help break up the soil, and require minimal maintenance. Choose early varieties to avoid blight and enjoy harvesting new potatoes in the summer. Simply plant seed potatoes in trenches and cover them with soil, earthing up as they grow to increase yields. Potatoes do best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Onions & Garlic

Both onions and garlic are hardy and low-maintenance crops that thrive in most conditions. Plant onion sets and garlic cloves in autumn or early spring, and they will grow with minimal intervention. They are also excellent for storage, ensuring a long-lasting supply. These crops prefer a sunny spot with well-draining soil and benefit from occasional weeding to prevent competition.

Runner Beans

Runner beans are prolific producers and require little effort beyond providing support with canes or a trellis. Sow seeds directly in the soil after the last frost and enjoy an abundant harvest throughout summer. Regular picking encourages more beans to grow. They need a sunny location and moist, fertile soil for best results.

Courgettes

Courgettes are one of the most rewarding crops for beginners. They grow quickly, produce abundantly, and require little more than regular watering. One or two plants will be enough to keep you well-supplied throughout the season. They thrive in full sun and well-composted soil, producing best when watered consistently.

Salad Leaves

For a quick and continuous harvest, salad leaves like lettuce, rocket, and spinach are ideal. These can be grown in succession, meaning you can sow new seeds every few weeks for a constant supply. They also do well in
containers or raised beds. While many salad leaves prefer partial shade, some, like rocket, can tolerate full sun.

Carrots

Carrots are a great choice for allotmenteers, though they thrive best in well-dug, stone-free soil. Sow seeds directly into the ground and thin them as they grow. Try varieties like Nantes or Chantenay for reliable results. Carrots prefer a sunny location with light, sandy soil and benefit from companion planting with onions to deter pests.

Beetroot

Beetroot is a low-maintenance and versatile crop that can be used in salads, soups, and roasting. Sow seeds directly in the ground from spring onwards, and harvest when the roots are about the size of a golf ball for the best flavour. It grows well in most soils but prefers a sunny position and regular watering for even growth.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a fantastic perennial crop that will reward you with delicious fruit year after year. Plant runners in autumn or early spring, mulch well, and enjoy sweet, juicy berries in summer. Protect from birds with netting to maximise your harvest. Strawberries do best in full sun and well-drained soil, with regular watering during dry spells.

 
Broad Beans

Broad beans are hardy and can be sown in autumn for an early harvest the following spring. They require little attention and, like runner beans, fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits future crops. They prefer a sunny position and rich, well-draining soil.

 
Herbs (Parsley, Chives, Mint, Basil, Rosemary)

Herbs are incredibly easy to grow and add fresh flavours to your cooking. Hardy herbs like rosemary, chives, and mint will thrive with little care, while basil and parsley do well in warmer months. Mint is best grown in a container to prevent it from spreading too aggressively. Most herbs prefer a sunny position with well-drained soil, though parsley and mint can tolerate some shade.