Allotment growing in spring – pests, frost and crops worth growing

Even on a well-established allotment, things don't always go to plan. Spring can bring unexpected frosts, hungry wildlife and the occasional setback, but I've found that not every problem needs an intervention. Sometimes it's about accepting a little damage, adapting your plans and making the most of whatever is growing well.

Here's what's been happening on my plot this April, including a few things I've been experimenting with and one particularly useful winter salad crop.

Allotment pests I'm choosing to leave alone

Slugs are a familiar presence on most allotments, although I'm fortunate not to have a particularly serious problem. I prefer to see them as part of the wider ecosystem rather than something that needs eliminating altogether. That said, they've been nibbling the emerging shoots of my American groundnut ( Apios americana ), which is less welcome!

My approach is generally to sow a little extra of vulnerable crops, accepting that I might lose a few seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

along the way. If something repeatedly struggles, I'll often consider growing something else rather than spending too much time trying to protect it.

I also try to make space for wildlife around the plot, including small areas of longer grass, wildflowers and deadwood, which can provide habitats for natural predators such as ground beetles and toads.

A mixed flower patch providing habitat for pollinators and natural predators on the plot

Another visitor I've noticed is the pea and bean weevil. If you spot small, U-shaped notches along the edges of broad bean leaves, this is likely to be the culprit. I tend to leave this damage alone, as established plants

Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers.

are generally able to tolerate it without affecting the eventual harvest. Not every pest needs to be tackled!

Notched leaf edges on broad beans – typical pea and bean weevil damage, but largely cosmetic and nothing to worry about

Late frost damage on potatoes

My potatoes were caught by a cold snap this spring, leaving some of the emerging foliage slightly blackened. I hadn't covered them with horticultural fleece

A soft, fibrous, translucent material laid over or around plants hastening their growth and protecting them against weather and pests. Heavier grades of fleece give about 2°C of protection from frost. It is usually used without supporting hoops.

because only a few shoots had appeared, and I decided to risk it.

As I grow my potatoes using no-dig methods, I don't routinely earth them up, so I was interested to see how they would recover. Although the exposed foliage took a hit, the damage was limited and new growth can emerge as conditions improve.

Potato foliage blackened by a late frost has caused damaged leaves, but fresh growth is already emerging beneath

Protecting the fruit on my allotment

One job I've tackled this week is getting the bird protection in place around my fruit. I started building up my fruit bed around 18 months ago, and the strawberries, blackberries and dwarf fruit trees are now looking really promising. With the developing fruit becoming increasingly tempting to birds, I've decided it's time to get my fruit cage and netting properly in place.

I've also been thinking about protecting my early broad bean sowings from mice. They can be particularly troublesome when seeds are germinating in my growing structures, so I've been experimenting with loosely covering seed trays with horticultural fleece. It does mean keeping a closer eye on watering, but I'm hoping it will help protect the seedlings.

Liz’s fruit cage with netting in place to protect the developing fruit

Keeping carrots protected

Carrot root fly is another pest I plan for each year. I've had good results growing more resistant varieties, like ‘ Flyaway ’, and covering my carrot beds with fine insect-proof mesh or fleece. I put the covering in place from the day of sowing and leave it there until harvest.

Carrots covered with fleece to prevent carrot root fly laying eggs and damaging the roots

I love winter purslane and feel it deserves to be grown much more widely. If you're looking for a useful, cold-hardy salad crop that requires very little attention, it's well worth trying.

I sowed mine directly into the soil in early October, gave it a single watering and then largely left it to get on with things, without any additional winter protection.

I've been harvesting the leaves from late February through to April. They're succulent and tender, making a lovely addition to spring salads, but they're also delicious tossed into a quick stir-fry with a little soy sauce.

As the season progresses, the stems begin to elongate and flower buds appear, signalling that leaf production is slowing down. I usually clear the crop towards the end of April to make room for my summer brassicas and other maincrop vegetables.

It's been one of the most rewarding crops on my plot this winter, and one I'd happily recommend to other allotment growers.

Winter purslane at the end of its season, with flowering stems elongating and signalling it’s time to clear and replant

With a holiday coming up, my priority now is to make sure the allotment can manage without me for a little while. I'm setting up self-watering systems, checking that protective fleece

A soft, fibrous, translucent material laid over or around plants hastening their growth and protecting them against weather and pests. Heavier grades of fleece give about 2°C of protection from frost. It is usually used without supporting hoops.

is in place and making sure everything is as prepared as possible before I go.

There's always something to do on an allotment, but I've learned that a little planning, a willingness to adapt and knowing when to leave things alone can make all the difference. Now, hopefully, I can enjoy a few days away knowing the plot is in good shape!