What to Plant in Your Allotment in 2025

*This is a collaborative post.

Tending to an allotment isn’t just about growing your own food; it’s a boost for both mind and body. The act of digging, planting, and harvesting gets you moving, while the connection to nature helps reduce stress. Plus, the satisfaction of eating your own produce beats anything shop-bought. Here’s what you should consider planting in 2025 for a rewarding and productive year on your plot.

Divine Gratins: Potatoes and Leeks

Potatoes are a staple for good reason—they’re versatile, filling, and easy to grow. Choose seed potatoes suited to the UK climate, like first earlies for early harvests or maincrop varieties for winter storage. Plant them in well-drained soil, adding compost for a nutrient boost, and regularly “earth up” the soil to protect developing tubers. 

Leeks, meanwhile, thrive in rich soil and require little fuss beyond watering in dry spells.

Cure potatoes by drying them for a few days in a dark, cool place before storing them in hessian sacks. 

Leeks can be left in the ground until needed, or blanched and frozen for stews and gratins.

Essential Taste Enhancers: Onions, Shallots, and Garlic

These flavour-packed staples are perfect for allotments. Plant onion sets or garlic cloves in autumn or early spring in loose soil. Keep the area weed-free and water sparingly to avoid rot. Shallots, known for their sweeter taste, can also be planted in early spring. They divide as they grow, giving you multiple bulbs per set.

Dry onions and shallots thoroughly before storing in a cool, dry place. Garlic can be braided and hung for months of use. Alternatively, pickle garlic cloves for long-term preservation.

High Volume, Low-Calorie Food: Broad Beans and Runner Beans

These easy-to-grow beans are perfect for filling plates without packing on calories. Broad beans do well in cooler conditions, making them ideal for early planting. Sow them in rich, well-drained soil and provide support as they grow. Runner beans flourish in summer and need trellises or canes to climb. Regular picking encourages more pods to grow.

Freeze blanched beans to enjoy throughout winter. Broad beans can also be dried and stored for soups and casseroles.

Healthy Greens: Courgettes, and Cabbage

Courgettes grow prolifically in summer; give them plenty of space and water consistently. Cabbages require patience and rich soil, but they’re worth the effort for their versatility. Protect them from pests with netting.

Courgettes can be turned into chutneys or frozen as slices. Cabbage can be fermented into sauerkraut or kimchi to preserve its nutrients.