Short on allotment time

  Hello everyone

I've owned an allotment for the past six years. However, due to looking after my elderly mum who lives with me and working four days a week my time at the allotment is sadly reducing each passing year. I grow mainly potatoes and shallots. Can anyone recommend any other crops that dont need a lot of attention. I fancy trying to grow something different this year. Any help would really be appreciated.
Ps. I live in Essex so I guess our weather is a little warmer than other parts of the uk.

Before everyone weighs in I'll recommend Marketmore outdoor cucumber. Buy the seed and raise plants, or buy plants after the last frost.
These small cucumbers don't seem to get eaten or diseased; need no looking after; produce lots of fruit and taste better than anything from the shop!

If plot time is short and getting there to harvest can be a problem, the following stand and can be picked at either wide intervals, or in one go - perpetual spinach, drying beans like borlotti, squashes, onions from sets and winter cabbage and kale, but you will need to net these last 2.

I too have been short on allotment time these past couple of years. This year I've made a resolution to go every week, even if it is only to spend a short amount of time there. So far so good, it's all about routine for me.

I've been watch Charles Dowding's No Dig Youtube channel but I do not have enough compost. But he suggests growing squashes through plastic sheet which would cut down on weeding. Also reading around I will be mulching with straw the plants that are not prone to slug attack such as garlic, tomatoes, salad potatoes and mature leeks.

That's the plan currently and I'll be watching this link for further ideas.

Thank you everyone who has kindly replied. I'll take the info on board and decide what to grow.

I wish you all luck with whatever your growing this year.

Happy gardening.

Hello pottylotty,

I'd second all of the suggestions above but as the chair of the association I belong to I'd urge you to let your committee or site managers know what is going on.

It could be that some other alotmenteers might be able to help you keep it ticking along, or at he very least might be less hard on you when plot inspections are happening if things are looking neglected.

Additionally, perhaps you could consider some permanent crops that just get on with it like Jerusalem Artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries etc?

Hope you find some time soon, Su

I'd very strongly discourage putting JAs in the ground as you'll soon have a plot full of them - grow in large pots if you want them! As mentioned by others above winter squash will just get on with it and with the right varieties you don't need many to cover  a large area.

Flowers! Last year we were short on time as well and divided the patches with broad strips of flowers and herbs.. This reduces your full m2, it is a beautiful sight, good for the bees and when they are done: just rip the flowers out and put on your compost heap. (I do have about 40 thyme plants now ..)
We used calendula a lot, Tropaeolum magus: the eatable flower, chrysantium, Tagetes (the big ones), camomile, thyme, salvia, rosemary.
Leafy beets are good as well: strong and need little attention apart from harvesting and eating.

As mentioned before: different kinds of pumpkins and Artichokes: in the evening the flowers will be full with bumble bees, who sleep in the flower! The sight will make you happy.

The experience I have on the plot is like SnooziSusi says: communicate with the board and things are a little more relaxed..