After weeks of hard graft, things are finally starting to come together on my new allotment. In this video, I’m making real progress as the overall allotment layout and plan begins to take shape. I’ve been busy tackling lots of essential allotment jobs, using free and reclaimed materials, and laying the groundwork for a productive year of growing my own food.
If you enjoy allotment gardening, vegetable growing, or building things on a budget, this video is for you. I talk through what I’ve been working on recently, why these jobs matter, and how they fit into the bigger picture of creating a low-cost, sustainable allotment. From clearing ground to planning growing areas, this is real-world allotment life — not perfect, but honest and achievable.
But will it all actually work? That’s the big question. As with any new allotment, there are challenges ahead, and I share my thoughts, hopes, and concerns as the plan finally starts to feel real.
Whether you’re new to allotments, thinking about growing your own vegetables, or just love practical gardening content, I hope this video gives you ideas, motivation, and confidence to get stuck in.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow along as the allotment journey continues.
21 Comments
Hi Mark. Great video, slowly but surely things are getting done. But maybe fix that bit of fencing by the alliums at the end of the plot, before you bring over the next raised bed. Just to give yourself a bit of room to work in, you don't want to step backwards into the bed and maybe break something, body or bed 😢.x
It looks like your carrot bed is on the shaded side of your polytunnel so is going to get limited light.
Clare at The Farmyard Garden and Danny at Growup both have beds running down the middle of their polytunnels. It seems to work for them.
❤👍
Poly tunnel looks great
Mark, since you have so many beds to fill, take a few minutes to watch The Permaculture Consult’s video Filing your Raised Beds Cheaply. This is a scientist in Texas, USA. He doesn’t buy compost. I know this works because my family has gardened like this for generations. Charles Downing is not the only expert and I know all of you across the pond swear by him. I tell you you will not notice a difference in your soil and compost at the end of the first season.
Shhhhh dont mention snow! 😂😂😂😂
SO allmost done for the real start of gardening
I struggle with the old indecision problem too. I could have done half the stuff if i'd just cracked on 😂. We spend far too much time trying to get things just right, but anything can be changed at a later date (well apart from the polytunnel lol )
You could go 3 or even 4 collars high for carrots. Apparently the carrot flies very rarely fly over 2 feet high. Not so expensive to fill either if you use sharp sand too
Thank you for another great video
Hallo mark the over beds te Poletunnel veel work the matrialen planken schilderen Tour the moostuin thans the video good weekend friend🌤️✅🌱🧥🍹
Mark i love your enthusiasm but im so lost where everything is going. The carrot and lavender combination should work well. I haven't been able to a thing at my plot as it hasn't stopped raining and where we are on clay its boghy and a right mess
I totally agree with the carrots / lavender idea… makes sense to me! Lovely vlog Mark! Exciting times 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Good that things are progressing despite the crappy weather we're having. I haven't been to my plot in months but I have started some seeds at home.
In your polytunnel I think you should do what we did with ours…. 2 beds down the sides and one in the middle with a patio area either end of you middle bed and pathways .The patio area is for you to have a cuppa by yourself or with plot neighbours etc. The other patio area for keeping your watering cans and temporary staging or for overwintering some tender plants in pots. Put wood chips or slabs between the 3 beds, we have wood chips at the moment.
Good luck with everything Mark 🍀 ❤
Glad you are feeling better and that your plans are coming together. Carrots next to the lavender should work and hopefully mask the smell and deter carrot fly 👍 happy planning, sowing and growing 👍
Great update Mark , busy , busy , busy lol , plans sound great and fingers crossed the weather behaves for you and love the idea of the carrot bed being next to the lavender 👍
I’ve just taken on an allotment (August 25) and this is my first growing season (2026) I’m heading into. The first thing I did after clearing the weeds was to measure, note the compass position then draw up a plan.
I planned for 2/3 of the plot as there were already some established fruit bushes. I was aware that I may have future ideas which would have this year as I worked my plot. If I’d planned for the entire plot I wouldn’t be able to implement them. I wanted to see how the established fruit bushes would perform or whether they were diseased before adding to them or replacing them.
Planning in advance meant that small tasks could be viewed as towards the final finished plot but also accommodating flexibility.
Hi Mark, i think when you have moved all your beds/plants from your old plot. You can get stuck in to your growing plan for the season 😊 its also good you have chatted to your plot neighbour too. You have got some really good ideas. Im sure you may change your mind when you read feedback from everyone. Just go with the flow and don't fill your mind up with lots of ideas as you work as well. I would just focus on getting all your stuff moved from your old plot and then, crack on 😊 great update and you have done well so far too. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Hi Mark, great to hear your plans. I shall be watching developments! Are you going to trench in your polytunnel excess plastic on the sides?