Topic: Is this size plot too small?

[Squash64]

I am thinking of splitting a half plot into two.  This would then measure 26ft x 25ft.  Our Allotments Officer says it is alright to do this.

Do any other sites have plots of about this size or would they be too small?

[grannyjanny]

Ours is 56'x18' & we would love it to be bigger. There are smaller plots on our site but don't know the actual measurements. People are so desperate for plots there will be someone glad of it. Is there a potential problem with parking? As a plot becomes empty on our site it is split into two but at weekends there can be a problem with cars.
Janet

[Sparkly]

When we first started on the site we shared a part of a plot that was rented by a friend. We had an area about 30x30ft. It was okay for 1 year whilst getting into it. May be okay for some new people. Not sure if I could cope with that long term though.

[Unwashed]

Our site has let plots of under one pole, you'd be really lucky to get a plot as big as 25'x26'.

[Squash64]

Thanks for the replies.
The reason I'm thinking of this is because even a half-plot seems a bit too big for some people.  I would only split two half-plots so there would not be a problem with parking.

[Trevor_D]

We're only letting out half-size plots at the moment, approx 30x40 feet (although the exact dimensions vary from plot to plot).

Even if someone taking on a plot is an experienced gardener, tackling an allotment - even a small one - can be a bit daunting. We'd rather someone take on something they can cope with easily, than have a huge wilderness they can't manage and then give up.

Result? The site is busy & bustling. Lots of extra members, to socialise with and give a hand with the jobs; plenty of growing going on. And there's always scope in the future for folk to expand, or move to a larger plot as & when they become available.

[manicscousers]

we have some new members who just wanted one bed, 20x4 so I can't see a problem..some have put their names down for more land  ;D

[Mr Smith]

Because of demand on our allotment site several people are now sharing, I think you can have whatever size of an allotment you want depending on how much veg you want to grow, :)

[shirlton]

The last 6 plots that were let on our site have been half plots. I think for people new to allotment gardening half a plot is the best thing. The number of full plots in the latter years that have been let out and after a couple of months  are neglected probably wouldn't have happened had they been half plots.
Sometimes an uncultivated full plot is to daunting for newbies.

[chriscross1966]

A quarter plot would be brilliant for folks that have never done any veg gardening to start out on. A friend of mine (lifeliong flat dweller) saw my plot a few days ago and couldn't believe how big it was (I don't think it's "full size", though it's not that far short of it) .... he was also appalled at how much digging I expected to do and how much effort went into it..... at least a quarter plot would be less frightening once they realise how much effort per square foot they need to make..... You could grow a lot of salads on a plot that size (and maybe some celeriac and a few parsnips for the winter.....

chrisc

[elvis2003]

we have a couple or quarter plots,which to me look teensy,but the owners still struggle to keep up.

[taurus]

Its really interesting to see the different sizes of plot that are  "a plot".  I thinks its a good idea that someone starts of on a small plot.  It gives them a realistic idea as to how much hard work is involved and will sort the wheat from the chaf so to speak.  What Trevor D as as a half plot would be nearly a full plot here.
This autumn we are going to re size the plots to a more uniformed size.  Over the years the fences and path have dis appeared and theres no clear boundary markings.  At the moment we still have 10 plots available.  Which beggars belief in this day and age.  And there clean to, no brambles etc cleared by the council last autumn in an attempt to rent them out.  It makes me think reading the post that I might suggest to our allotment officer a few quarter plots might be a good idea.
1. can someone please tell me what a full plot should measure.  That's if there is a standard size.
2. How do we calculate this, as one side of the track the plots are 88 feet from front to back and on the other side there only 60 feet front to back.
Any help would be apprecaited.
Sorry for going slightly off on a tangent :-[ :-[ :-* :-*

[littlebabybird]

hi taurus,
my understanding is 10 rods for a full sized standard plot.

thats umm 253 sq meters, 2720 sq feet?
but lots of 'ful size' plots are smaller

sooo 31ft wide on the 88ft wide section  and
45ft wide on the 60ft section

my maths however is probably way off and someone cleverer can give you a better answer

lbb

[Trevor_D]

A "standard" allotment is 30 feet by 90 feet, ie 2700 sq feet. In practice, of course, they have to fit into the land available, so - as long as the total area is about right - the exact dimensions vary.

[littlebabybird]

ok 2700 sq feet then
so at 88 ft long you need 30.68181818 ft wide
and 60 ft long is 45ft wide.

lbb

[Barnowl]

A standard plot in London is usually half the size of those outside i.e. around 1350 sq ft,so a half plot in London is about 700 sq ft,

I reckon the 1350 sq ft  is ok for a family of 2-4 depending on how intensively you use the space, and similarly the 700 sq ft is probably too small for serious allotmenteering but it's a nice size and ok for a 1-2 person family - somewhere to grow fresh veg & fruit to enhance your diet but not to provide all the needs of a larger family (unless you are a very talented an vertical gardener). Or as a retreat - just so long as you can fit a shed on it :)

[ceres]

Our London plots are the full 250 sq m.  We have some half plots and a very few 'squeezed in' plots that are smaller.  Our experience with half plots is that the serious tenants are back on the waiting list for another half within a short period of time.  I have a full size plot and it isn't big enough particularly for fruit and I find rotation of potatoes, tomatoes, chillis, peppers etc a bit of a nightmare because of the limited space.

Splitting plots has created a parking problem for us.

[Barnowl]

That's interesting Ceres. You're by a large park and from looking at allotments around Sheen,  Mortlake and Chiswick  I don't think we're the only ones with a smaller standard plot size, but perhaps I'm wrong to infer this is true of most of London. Could other Londoners advise?

I have to say that now that I'm a bit more experienced gardener (note I didn't use the word better)  I try to do more but I have trouble fitting all I plan into the space available and could do with some more space. But for the right person or as a starter patch/waiting room I still think 700 sq ft is ok. Not so big that it will  break your heart if you have to abandon it to get a bigger plot

[BAK]

We have 53 plots on our site - average size approx. 5 poles (i.e. half a plot). There are only 3 plots that are "full size", i.e. 10 poles, along with 3 that are at the other end of the spectrum in the quarter plot size category (2-3 poles).

We intend to create a few more quarter plots when the opportunity presents itself as there is some demand for that size of plot, particularly among young mothers who will be looking after the plot without any help from their OHs.

Ceres' point is a good one. We also perceive potential car parking problems if we were to split too many plots.

[Trevor_D]

Hadn't thought about the car problem. It hasn't arisen so far, but then we have a fairly large car park and at weekends & Bank Holidays we can park on the main road. Let's hope all 90 members don't decide to come by car on the same afternoon!