Cultivating Resilience - Preparing Your Allotment for a Drought-Prone Future

1. At the mercy of the weather

As growers and gardeners, we are all at the mercy of the weather.

When I was a child, my father often said the weather was changing. In his day, summers seemed reliably warm, winters cold - perhaps because there was no central heating or air conditioning to take the edge off.

Today, the changes are impossible to ignore. I can’t recall the last decent snowfall we’ve had on our smallholding, yet I clearly remember hedgerows burning in 40°C heat within the past three years.

2. Rain Capture and Storage

Link water butts together to maximise rainwater storage

This may seem to be an obvious choice, but you would be surprised at the number of growers who don’t collect rainfall. Think beyond a single water butt - the key is storage volume. Rainwater harvesting is an essential part of dealing with drought. 

3. Incorporate Organic Matter

Incorporating organic materials into your plot, such as well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mould, is an excellent way to retain moisture in the soil. They act like a sponge, improving soil structure and rapidly increasing water-holding capacity. 

Also utilise green manures and cover crops such as phacelia on any empty growing spaces. Consider using Biochar, which improves soil aggregation and structure, further contributing to its water-holding capacity as well as creating a healthier soil environment for plant growth.

4. Consider No-Dig Gardening

Adopting a no-dig gardening approach will help preserve soil structure by avoiding soil disturbance. You can prevent the soil from drying out and maintain the natural sponge-like structure.

You will also be protecting the environment that supports a thriving ecosystem of microbial life and other soil organisms like mycorrhizal fungi and worms.

5. Optimise Your Soil Biology

Optimising your soil biology should be a priority

Optimising your soil biology on your plot enhances plant resilience during drought by improving soil structure, increasing moisture retention, and facilitating nutrient uptake. A healthy, biologically diverse soil acts as a buffer against water scarcity, creating a more stable environment for plants. A thriving soil food web, including earthworms, fungi, and bacteria, creates a more porous, sponge-like soil structure.

Earthworms and other soil macrofauna create channels that allow water to infiltrate deeper into the soil rather than running off the surface. Microbes, especially fungi and bacteria, produce glues and organic compounds that bind soil particles together into stable aggregates. This aggregation increases the soil's capacity to store water and makes it more accessible to plant roots.

Soil microbes can also directly help plants manage stress. Some microbes can trigger a plant's natural defence mechanisms, helping it better tolerate drought conditions. They can influence a plant's ability to regulate its water balance by producing compounds that act as osmolytes, which help cells retain water. Additionally, some microbes produce hormones that regulate stomatal closure, helping the plant conserve water while still allowing for essential gas exchange. This ensures the plant can continue to photosynthesise and grow, even during periods of water stress.

6. Engineer Your Microclimate

Plant windbreaks to reduce evaporation and cover vulnerable crops with Lightweight shade netting during heatwaves, or consider planting tall crops alongside shorter crops in summer to create shade.

7.  Learn to work with Drought, not against it

There are going to be increased periods of drought in future seasons - let’s learn to deal with it. Plant selection can make a huge difference. Plant and grow heat/drought-tolerant species and varieties, such as squash species, certain brassicas, sweet corn, and root crops that have deep rooting systems. Many heritage or heirloom varieties are well-suited to dry spells, too, which is one of the reasons they have stood the test of time. Make enquiries with seed companies regarding suitable varieties; they will always be more than happy to offer qualified advice. With climate change, some varieties can now be planted outside their traditional planting dates - try planting earlier, or later than the norm.


Stagger Planting Dates - Successional sowing in small batches at varied times will help spread the risk, hopefully ensuring that at least some batches will mature. Also, start plants in larger pots (2 or 3 litres) for more intimate establishment for planting-out at a later date than the usual planting dates when more rain could be expected. Planting more densely, where appropriate, can also be advantageous for crops such as lettuce; slightly denser planting can shade soil and reduce evaporation.

Join The National Allotment Society

Become a National Allotment Society member and help to preserve and protect allotments for future generations. 

You'll also gain a range of benefits, including free liability insurance, initial legal support, expert advice and much more.