How long has anyone waited for an allotment?

[mo]

have enquired and told that a few people drop out this time of year due to the weather, so its a case of wait and see what happens.  :-\  Would appreciate tips on wet clay if anyone has any. :)

[mo]

[manicscousers]

iya, mo..welcome to the site, here's hoping you hear soon..
our plot was so wet, part of it was under water for 3 months of the year so, yes, it can be done on wet clay..
we built up beds, filled them with rotted muck, some over 10 years old, this meant we could plant into it..no doubt there will be others along soon with good ideas  :)

[glosterwomble]

Hi Mo, congratulations on joing the best allotment forum site on the internet!!

I'm sure you'll get a plot soon, our site is being cleared of non working plotholders as we speak which is how we just got our 2nd plot.

Clay soil need lots of compost, manure and even sharp sand if it is VERY heavy.

Good luck and keep us posted!  ;D

[dtw]

I got mine more or less straight away, as there were quite a few plots free.
However all the available plots were infested with couch grass.
It's hard work trying to clear it though.

I don't know much about clay though, try digging it out in slices with a spade
and laying them alongside the trench with air gaps, so it dries out.
It is then easier to break up.

[glosterwomble]

... try digging it out in slices with a spade
and laying them alongside the trench with air gaps, so it dries out.
It is then easier to break up.

Yes, I forgot, if you dig it roughly now leaving it in huge clods the frost is supposed to break it down more over the winter. Worth a try!

[Blue Bird]

I only waited about 9 months but the waiting list is now years - and yes I think that it is this time of year people do think about dropping out

best of luck

:)  :) BB

[dtw]

Would it be worth pestering the council to supply more land to meet demand?
I'm not sure how much they are required to supply by law.

[mo]

I emailed the council and the allotments are run by the local parish, I have my name down and when I spoke to the lady she did say that there were 1 or 2 people on the waiting list but that was a while ago hopefully they've gone elsewhere! oops did i say that aloud!! She said to email her again November and was checking records or something to make sure people are using the plots. Finger x wont be ages and ages, wanna get going and be a lottie! :)

[Lauren S]

Keep calling them Mo, this is about the time of year people give up weekly if not daily. If you keep ringing they will know you are keen  ;D

[mo]

Cheers guys, will just keep harrasing them so they get fed up and do something to get rid of me! I didn't realise how popular allotments were and its not just oldies that have them  :P, younger people require them nowadays, all want whats best for ourselves and kids i suppose. Are there any rules about dogs and allotments?

[Weed-Digga]

Are there any rules about dogs and allotments?

I think the rules vary from council to council, not supposed to take dogs onto our site, but plenty of people do. I don't have a problem with it myself and if my much missed Blue Roan Cocker 'Bridie' were still alive I would take her with me.

[Curryandchips]

Our site requires that dogs are kept on a lead at all times, except when on the owner's own fenced plot.

Understandable in my view.

[mo]

Totally agree to keep on lead unless fenced off, we have a blue roan cocker and is so part of the family shame to leave him behind.

[Weed-Digga]

Not allowed to fence off our plots, and dogs are not allowed at all. Well behaved dogs are no problem and it's great to see them there, but how would you differentiate between well behaved and not well behaved dogs?Imagine having to tell someone that their dog was too 'naughty' to be taken up the lottie!!

[Clayhithe]

When we moved to the West Country,
to a house with no garden
(can you imagine?)
we put our names down the day we moved in.

5 years later we moved to the South Coast,
and were offered a lottie
on the day we moved out!

[theamatteurgardener]

I got on the list in Newcastle in July.

Was allocated my plot yesterday!

;D

[gerbera]

I put my name down for a plot in spring 2004. at January 2005 I was number 25 on the list, and warned that the people at the top of the list had been waiting nearly 10 years :o

I've just sent an email to the council to find out how far I have progressed up the list....not heard back yet....but you can bet its still double figures! >:(

I put my son's name down for an allotment in summer 2005.....when he turned 3.....he shows great interest in veg growing (and eating) so maybe he might have a lottie of his own when he turns 18! ;)

[Simba42]

The only wait we had was waiting for somebody to answer the phone or email. But there was a choice of 5 plots when we started.

[bupster]

I had to wait all of three days a couple of years ago, but there's now a waiting list for the first time in memory, which is brilliant, except for those on the waiting list. A lot of people drop out around now - for us it's renewals time as well. Another friend of mine got a plot by going up to the site and talking to people until she found someone who wanted to keep their plot but couldn't really manage it all by themselves, so she had use of half a plot or so while she waited. Worth a try if you're desperate to start growing something?

[kt.]

I waited less than 10 seconds. Loads of answers here though:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,35069.0.html