How to Care for Your Allotment During a Hosepipe Ban

With hosepipe bans and long stretches of dry weather becoming more common, it’s important to adjust how we care for our allotments during the summer months. From smarter watering techniques to sustainable water collection, there’s plenty you can do to keep your plot productive without wasting water.

2. Water Smart, Not More

Don’t just sprinkle water across your plants—make it count. Always water directly at the roots and avoid wetting the leaves. Plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers (especially under cover) need deep watering once a day, not a light spray. Use a watering can or bucket instead of a hose during bans, and focus your effort on plants that need it most, such as young veg, lettuces, peas, and beans

4. Build Plant Resilience

Allowing certain plants to go a few days without water encourages deeper root growth. Carrots, parsnips, and beetroot can find moisture several inches below the surface and often need little help once established. This deeper rooting makes them more drought-tolerant—and tastier too.

6. Prioritise What You Water

In a dry spell, it’s okay to let lawns go brown—they'll bounce back with rain. Focus your watering on seedlings, potted plants, and young crops that are still establishing. Established perennials and shrubs are usually tough enough to withstand short droughts.

Current Hosepipe Ban in Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Starting 11th July 2025, a hosepipe and sprinkler ban is in effect across Sheffield and South Yorkshire due to the region's driest spring in 132 years. Reservoir levels have fallen to 55.8%, prompting an official drought declaration. Under this ban, residents cannot use hosepipes or sprinklers for watering gardens, washing cars, or filling pools. 

However, Yorkshire water have clarified in their FAQs page that allotment holders can still water their food crops using a hosepipe. You can still water your general flowers and plants using watering cans or buckets filled from your outside tap, as long as you don’t use a hosepipe. Exemptions also allow watering newly laid turf or grass seed within the first 28 days if laid before the ban started. These restrictions will remain until rainfall improves water supplies.

Current Hosepipe Ban in Kent & Sussex

South East water are now asking residents to adhere to their hosepipe ban; within enforcment commencing from 18th July 2025.

Please note the following exemption as detailed on the South East Water website:

'Water food crops at domestic premises or private allotments, where this cannot be reasonably done by watering can.'