How to select a plot?

[cport80]

Greetings all,

As our back garden is now a small forest of fruit & veg, me & the wife have decided to take on an allotment. We are off to meet the steward at lunch time today to have a look around.

Since it's all new to us, we aren't sure what we should be looking for. Anyone got any tips on how to choose a plot or questions we need to ask?

Chris.

[cport80]

[the_snail]

Well my tip would be to look at all the available plots, the sizes and what condition they are in. Look to see if there is a shed, greenhouse or fruit bushes. Look at the size of the plots and take on the size that you think you can manage. It is very unlikely that you will have a clean plot so you may have to take some time in clearing perenial weeds like couch grass and bindweed etc. Take this in consideration when looking at the size of the plots.

Hope that helps :)

[Piglottie]

Would also be good to ask about water supply (ie, is there one) and if so, if your plot is near to it - believe me, after lugging the 10th watering can down to the plot, the distance seems enormous, so the nearer the better!  Also, check out security of the site (not much you can do about it if there is none, but good to know if the site is secure and I'd ask if they have any trouble with vandalism).  Might also help to have a look at the soil conditions (ie is it clay, well worked) - again, might not be much choice/range but on our site soil conditions can be quite different on various plots. 

Enjoy!

[Svea]

ask when it was last cultivated, if anyone has used chemicals on it.
will you get help clearing it / get a skip if it's full of rubbish / have a rent free period until it's cleared if it is really bad.

how close to the nearest tap/waterbutt etc etc

[Jesse]

Find out if it is prone to waterlogging, it may look okay now during a dry summer but spring, autumn and winter could be a different story.

[the_snail]

Thats a good point! My site in winter gets waterlogged.

[Derekthefox]

Dont forget ease of access, my plot only has a narrow footpath and small gate with hawthorn arch, so I have to carry literally everything onto the plot. Can't remember how I coped with the 20ft scaffold pole!

[wardy]

I must have been half asleep when I selected mine or just had rose tinted specs on.  I got the one which hadn't been touched for 20 years, farthest from the road and miles from the water butt.  All the other vacant ones were just as bad - still are  :)   I think water butt would be the main consideration for me if I had to choose again  :)

[cport80]

Thanks for all your help.

We're heading off in the next half hour. I must admit I hadn't considered waterlogging. We're planning to look around today and decide over the weekend but I suspect enthusiasm may get the better of us  ::)

Chris

[Jesse]

Let us know what you decide Chris and when you decide on your plot remember to take some photos for before and after comparison.  :)

[cport80]

Will do Jesse  :)

We just got back and yes we DID sign up there and then. Unfortunately my camera batteries are flat so I couldn't get a pic. Hopefully when we go back later.

We've taken on a plot which is one of five that someone has let lapse. Apparently he cleared all five plots with a JCB but gave up shortly after. Our plot is now overgrown but it looks like mainly couch grass and dock. Unfortunately it needs fencing off but since the other four plots are still empty the steward said we could have an old wooden shed from one of the others (which is in a bad state but may be fixable). He also said there's a good supply of timber nearby with a fresh load arriving today.

The good news is it's right by the water supply and we can park very close to the plot :D

We are heading back after work so I'll try to post some pics tonight. Thank you all so much for your ideas. Although we couldn't get a plot with everything, I think we've got the best compromise.

Chris.

[wardy]

Ooooh that just sounds fab  ;D   Near the tap!  Lucky you.  Rose tinted glass on again ;D

You'll not be able to keep away.  I hope you soon get your shed sorted out  :)

[cport80]

Here ya go...

Well my nails were too short to build a fence and the strimmer ran our of battery power after about 20 mins so at the moment it still looks pretty much like this.



We will be back there tomorrow with a boot full of tools   :)

[wardy]

Lovely bit of hay there  :)  Strimming is a good idea.  We borrowed the lotty association's one and then we mowed it with our petrol mower.  We then put some black sheet mulch over it and pieces of cardboard weighed down with bricks and filled plastic water bottles.  I planted spuds first.  Put cardboard onto the cut down weeds and then manure and then black mulch.  I cut a hole in where I wanted each spud and I've just harvested my first ones  :)  I wanted to get something in straight away or it gets boring otherwise.  If the weeds are covered up they can't grow and it will give you the breating space you need.

Happy gardening  :)  PS  Have a look on this forum at pics of Heidi's allotment