Allotment Care in a Changing Summer: How to Beat the Drought and Prepare for Autumn

National Allotment Week is the perfect time to celebrate growing your own, and to give your plot a little extra attention.

For many allotment holders, August is all about harvesting the rewards of months of hard work. But with increasingly unpredictable weather, looking after your plot can mean thinking beyond today's harvest.

Periods of hot, dry weather can put crops under stress, while a sudden change to wetter weather can bring its own challenges. The trick is to make your allotment more resilient now, so it's ready to make the most of every drop of rain when it comes.

Here are some simple ways to keep your plot productive through dry weather and prepare it for the months ahead.

1. Water wisely, not constantly

When the weather is dry, it can be tempting to water everything every day. But how and when you water can make a bigger difference than how much you use.

Water early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler and less water is lost to evaporation.

Rather than giving plants a quick sprinkle, water slowly and deeply around the root zone. This encourages roots to grow down into the soil, helping plants become more resilient during dry spells.

Pay particular attention to:

• Newly planted crops

• Seedlings and young plants

• Tomatoes, courgettes and other thirsty crops

• Plants growing in containers or grow bags

• Crops that are flowering or producing fruit

Allotment tip: If you're watering by hand, aim the water at the soil rather than the leaves. Your plants' roots are the ones that need the drink!

Make watering easier

If you're growing a lot of crops, an irrigation system can save time and help deliver water more consistently.

The Hozelock 25 Pot Automatic Watering Kit available from Chessington Garden Centre is designed to water multiple plants evenly, helping to keep moisture levels consistent without having to carry a watering can around your whole plot.

Always check your allotment site's rules around water use and irrigation before installing any system.

2. Mulch is your best friend in a drought

One of the simplest ways to help your soil hold onto moisture is to cover it.

A layer of organic mulch acts like a protective blanket over the soil, helping to:

• Reduce evaporation

• Keep roots cooler

• Suppress weeds competing for water

• Improve soil structure

• Add organic matter as it breaks down

RocketGro Magic Mulch 50L, available at Chessington Garden Centre, is particularly useful for allotment beds. It's a peat-free organic mulch that helps retain moisture, suppress weeds and gradually improve the soil as it breaks down.

Apply mulch to moist soil rather than bone-dry soil, and leave a little space around plant stems to reduce the risk of rot.

3. Give your soil some attention

Healthy soil is one of your allotment's greatest assets.

Good soil structure allows roots to access air, nutrients and water, while organic matter can help improve moisture retention during dry weather and drainage when conditions turn wet.

If a bed is becoming tired after a busy growing season, adding organic matter can give it a boost.

Our RocketGro Fruit & Veg Compost is peat-free and designed specifically for edible crops, with organic matter to support healthy roots, soil structure and moisture management.

It's ideal for:

• Vegetable beds

• Raised beds

• Containers

• Potting up

• Improving tired growing areas

4. Don't let bare soil bake

If you've harvested a crop and don't need the space immediately, try not to leave the soil completely exposed.

Bare soil can dry out quickly and is vulnerable to weeds, erosion and nutrient loss.

Instead, consider:

• Applying a layer of mulch

• Adding well-rotted organic matter

• Planting a green manure where appropriate

• Covering unused beds

This is also a great opportunity to start thinking about autumn and winter.

5. Start your autumn allotment tidy-up now

You don't need to wait until autumn to get your plot ready.

As crops finish, gradually clear away spent plants and tidy beds rather than leaving everything until the end of the season.

Remove:

• Dead or diseased foliage

• Spent annual crops

• Weeds before they set seed

• Damaged fruit and vegetables

• Old plant material that could harbour pests or disease

Healthy plant material can go onto your compost heap, while anything diseased should be disposed of appropriately rather than added to compost.

If you're starting or improving your own composting system, compost is a brilliant way to turn garden waste into a valuable soil improver. It can improve soil structure, drainage and moisture retention.

6. Make the most of the rain when it arrives

After a long dry spell, the arrival of rain can feel like a gift.

But rather than allowing that precious water to simply run away, think about how your plot can capture and retain it.

Mulched soil, healthy organic matter and good soil structure all help water infiltrate the ground and stay available to plants.

If your allotment site allows it, consider collecting rainwater in a water butt or other suitable container. Always follow your site's rules and make sure water storage is safe and secure.

7. Think about what comes next

August isn't the end of the growing season, there's still plenty to sow and plant.

Depending on your plot and local conditions, autumn is a great time to think about crops such as:

Salad leaves • Radishes • Spring onions • Winter salads • Spring cabbages • Garlic

Our range of fruit and vegetable growing composts can also help give new crops a strong start. Westland Medium Veg & Fruit Growing Compost is peat-free and formulated for fruit and vegetables, with a moisture-retentive yet well-draining structure.

Your August allotment checklist

Before you leave your plot this week, give yourself a quick five-minute check:

☐ Water deeply where needed
☐ Check young plants and newly planted crops
☐ Add mulch to vulnerable beds
☐ Harvest ripe crops regularly
☐ Remove diseased or spent plants
☐ Weed before weeds set seed
☐ Add healthy garden waste to your compost
☐ Prepare empty beds for autumn
☐ Think about what you can sow next
☐ Check your plot's water and storage rules

A little preparation now goes a long way

An allotment is always a work in progress, and that's part of the fun.

You can't control the weather, but you can make your plot better prepared for it. Protecting your soil, using water wisely and gradually clearing and preparing beds now will leave you in a much stronger position when autumn arrives.

Ready to give your allotment a little TLC?

Visit Chessington Garden Centre for compost, mulch, growing essentials, watering equipment and expert advice to help keep your plot productive through every season.