Topic: Considering an allotment - how much time / effort

[hideaway]

Hi there

Just found this site and wasted my whole lunch hour reading the various posts - seems like a great place for learning!

Having grown fruit and vegetables at home with some success, but on a small scale, i am considering applying to my local Council for an allotment.

As a relatively new father, i am now trying to understand what sort of commitment i would be undertaking in terms of time.  I would hate to take it on and then realise that i should really be down their each day tending to my space if i am unable to give that time. 

If anyone can perhaps share their experiences in terms of time commitment to run a (half size) allotment that would really help me.

[Le-y]

not an established allotmenteer yet as we're just clearing our plot still but wanted to let you know that its totally possible with small children, i have a 17 month old and a 4 week old and they've both been up there with me when i go :) i dont intend to go every day but definately more days than not as the planting/cropping ertc etc gets going.
congrats on the baby :)

[detailista]

I'm a single parent and have just taken on a plot four months ago, it was very overgrown and time was very much my concern, have decided to share with a friend to halve the work. My 11 year old daughter is loving it there and happily plays and helps.

I have only been able to get there at weekends for a few hours. 

Advice I read suggested covering over the bits that you're not ready to deal with and just tackling a bit at a time. Most of the plots around me have carpet or tarpaulin covering at the moment.

I am building raised beds so that there will be little if any digging to do in future years, hopefully a low maintenance plot.

A kids sand pit may be a good investment next year :)

good luck

[hideaway]

hi and thanks to both of you - i think i can get away with a day at the weekend, and will happily take my wife and daughter with me, maybe even an evening during the week.

I guess i am worried that during the hotter months things could go wrong if i am not there each day, its easy at the moment to pop into the back garden and give things a nice watering, the allotment site is about 1/2 mile away!

Sharing sounds like a good idea, i do have a friend who is also growing f+v in their back garden!

thanks again

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A both of you... Hideaway and Detailista... "How long's a piece of string?" A lot will depend on the state of the plot when you take it on. Often they have been let go and a lot of perennial weeds need removing... that can be time consuming but then the work load can decline...  :)

[grannyjanny]

I wanted an allotment for years but worried about time needed. I came across a book called The Half  Hour Allotment & decided it was possible. We got our half plot last December & it needed a lot of work but we enjoyed it & are now reaping the rewards. We now would love a full plot when one becomes available. BTW we are both OAPs so we did have more time to sort it out quickly.

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Hi Hideaway

To reassure you, it pretty much depends how much time you can spare really.  I've had a plot just over a year and have a 2 yr old and 4 yr old as well as working full time and commuting to London.  I have tried not to be over ambitious and dug the plot slowly over autumn/winter spring to get it ready - I did do maybe 4 or 5 longish days of say 5 hours but this was not the norm and I think I have averaged 3 hours a week generally.  My wife occassionally goes and picks but no more than 30 mins a week.  We've managed to get things set up, weeded and seeded on 3 hrs a week I think, so it is possible.  The 2 and 4 yr olds like going but time is short and they get bored within an hour despite setting up a swing and a slide for them.  However, it is a great option of somewhere to go and kill an hour, have a weed while they play and then go via the park on the way back.

I think having a plan and designing something low maintenance makes it very very do-able on limited time, especially if you are prepared to set objectives, hit the ground running and get on with it on the occassions you are at the plot.  If you are interested and have grown before then I'd guess you'd love it.  Welcome!

Psi

[daxzen]

we don't call it the allotment anymore in my house - its called the gym

i get healthy and stay fit at the same time

for me personally its about doing somehing on my plot everyday

and i would recommend it

that does not work for everyone - but it is so satisfying to have that daily touch

what it means is that 10 minutes hoeing every day is easy to do and it goes such a long way - stitch in time etc etc

i have chickens and that's my excuse for going and every man needs a shed of course

as a new dad you will be able to train your own allotment slave also

good luck!

dax

[Tee Gee]

I'm with Saddad on this one it can be very much what you want it to be!

I'm retired but try and keep my visits a bit routine e.g.

Generally I keep to a five day week much like I did when I worked

Depending upon what time of year it is my visits can vary from daily to two/three times a week for around 2-2½ hrs a visit.

When I worked I would often make a detour on my way home to water etc and got on with the bigger jobs at the weekend.

So basically you can work it to suit your situation.

If you prepare your plots well in the first instance you should have no feeding/watering to do unless you have produce under glass or in containers!

My 2009 Pictorial diary might give you some idea of what is involved. I produced them to show what is in season each month  so that in future years I can see if the seasons are in front/behind previous years.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/Photo%20Index.htm

BTW welcome to A4A

[hideaway]

thanks, i am blown away by the speedy, supportive responses.

I am going to do it!  I have decided!  I just need to tell my wife now!!  ::)

I will be back, this is a great site!

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Good man!

I recommend 2 books - River Cottage 'Veg patch' and Andi Cleverly (the allotment book i think it is called).  I have the 'half hr allotment' which is encouraging in some ways but to be honest it isnt the most detailed, although not bad.  Also, Kings Seeds are good and inexpensive and have a very nice catalogue they send out.

Other than that, a cheapo fork and spade and rake and you are up and running.

Also, dont fear the summer workload too much - I am not a great waterer and even in summer I watered at the most 3 times a week (absolute most) and still did really well.  You can always mulch to cut down on watering.

All the best.  This site is superb for encouragemetn and advice, you are right.  No-one want sto see anyone else struggle.

Psi

[Mme Muck]

Hi Hideaway!
To add my twopenn'orth, I've a 3.5 yr old and a 2.2 yr old so time is of the essence chez nous as well.  This is my fourth year on the plot and to be honest I've only just got to a stage where I feel on top of it and have reaped a decent harvest this year.   I can actually get something worthwhile done while the boys play now.  Before now they would run off and have to stop what I was doing every 2 minutes to stop them pinching next door's berries, pulling up seed labels etc!  I'm glad I managed to keep the plot while pregnant/they were babies though, as I can see next year we're going to have fun with sunflower/marrow competitions!

I found covering half while I got to grips with the other half a good plan.   Also like Lia Leendertz's Half Hour Allotment - she gives sensible practical advice.

Hope you don't have too long a waiting list  :)

[Borlotti]

Good luck, but if it is a Council allotment beware of carpet.  Had a terrible job removing all mine when the Council prohibited it as it got caught in their machines when they had to clear an allotment.  Cardboard or plastic sheeting is OK as cardboard rots and plastic sheeting can be taken up.  Carpet that is wet and has weeds growing on it is very heavy to lift, as I well know.

[Deb P]

Welcome to A4A, glad to hear you are going to take the plunge! A word of warning though, like A4A, allotmenteering is addictive! You think you will just pop down for half an hour, and three hours later you are amazed to realise it is getting dark and wonder how that happened........ ;D

[Froglegs]

Don't let it get on top of ya,wot you don't get done to day theres allways tomorrow.

[BAK]

As stated by others this is a "how long is a piece of string" question. However, if you are simply looking for a crude rule of thumb figure to give you an idea ... allow 30-45 minutes per pole per week during the main growing season (May to Sep). A pole is approx. 25 sq. metres. On a half plot (5 poles) this means 2.5 to just over 3 hours per week.

The ifs and buts ... this is for a plot in reasonable condition, i.e. it excludes time to clear an overgrown plot. The figure can be higher if you get hooked or you like nattering to other plot holders! Comments made by others apply, eg planning a low maintenance allotment can limit the time that you need to spend on the plot.

[Kendy]

Welcome to A4A, glad to hear you are going to take the plunge! A word of warning though, like A4A, allotmenteering is addictive! You think you will just pop down for half an hour, and three hours later you are amazed to realise it is getting dark and wonder how that happened........ ;D

and you still didn't do the jobs you actually went there to do ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

The size of the commitment depends very much on the size of the plot, which varies a lot. If we knew how many rods, pole or perch an allotment is, in your area, we could advise better. I definitely wouldn't recommend a full plot on my site to anyone with very limited time, for instance, but a plot somewhere else might be a lot smaller.

[Deb P]

Welcome to A4A, glad to hear you are going to take the plunge! A word of warning though, like A4A, allotmenteering is addictive! You think you will just pop down for half an hour, and three hours later you are amazed to realise it is getting dark and wonder how that happened........ ;D

and you still didn't do the jobs you actually went there to do ;D

Yes, strange that isn't it! ;D

[Squash64]

The size of the commitment depends very much on the size of the plot, which varies a lot. If we knew how many rods, pole or perch an allotment is, in your area, we could advise better. I definitely wouldn't recommend a full plot on my site to anyone with very limited time, for instance, but a plot somewhere else might be a lot smaller.

Welcome to A4A!

I agree with Robert.  Our smallest size plots are about 25ft x 25ft and most newcomers are very happy to have one of these.
If you have a choice, I would recommend having a small plot to begin with.