Not got a plot yet but just wondering.....

[Tortoise]

Hi, I'm new and quite excited about the possibility of getting a plot! When i moved into my own house 3 years ago i thought my little11' by40' garden would be just enough but I'm finding myself increasingly frustrated about how little i can fit in veg wise baring in mind I like my little lawn and flower beds too. I was Lucky enough to grow up in a home with a 100' plus garden and very productive veg patch. my parents always did most of the work though ;D

Now I walk past a large site (90 plots) everyday on my way to & from work and I was wondering how many hours a week I realistically need to put in on an allotment to be productive ,at first I'm thinking I just want some potato's onions, cabbage & runner beans. Thinking about it I could probably manage half to a whole day most weekends and a couple of hours on an evening or two during the week would this be enough?

I cant give any idea of plot size because as of yet all I've done is enquire about available plots with the local council, no response yet and their website is very disappointing, has absolutely no info other than a copy of the standard agreement (which has a clause about no planting of fruit bushes :-\) and a list of sites so i don't know how long I'll be waiting or what I'll get or even how much the rent is.

hope you can give me some ideas about the time commitment needed

thanks

[Tortoise]

[Squash64]

Hello Tortoise, and welcome.

I think that you would manage a small plot with the amount of time you have. 

If you know the name of the allotment site that you walk past, you could Google it and see if it has a website.  Then you could find out a bit more about plot sizes, waiting-lists etc.

[grannyjanny]

I have health problems & thought I couldn't cope with an allotment. I saw a book called the half hour allotment & after reading that I felt confident enough to put my name down. We share the donkey work & I love it.

[Bill Door]

Tortoise welcome to the site.

The number of hours you have suggested will be sufficient to keep up with a "half plot" (about 24 feet by 40 feet in old money) without being pushed or raising a sweat.  However to begin with you may use up all that time getting the plot prepared for production.

I started out on a half plot and i am now considering taking on another half plot but the amount of time i have now has increased and i am more prepared for the early mornings and the wet.  The plot i am looking at has not been cultivated for at least 8 years.

You might end up with the same condition plot.

If you want one then I would try and find out more about the site, probably stand outside the gate one Saturday and see if you can find out a bit more from a plot holder.  It would probably help to find out who the allotment officer is for the council and see if you can ring them for a quick chat.

good luck in your attempt to get a plot.

Bill

[hippydave]

Hi welcome Tortoise a good book to get is the half hour allotment by Lia Leendertz , ist full of great tips on how to get the best from your plot if you dont have a lot of time, if you use the shop tab at the top of the page and get it from Amazon Dan gets commission to help pay for running the site ;). i found it very useful to start with, but i love spending time on the lottie even if its just to chat to other plot holders, and most evenings just seem to disappear i enjoy it up there so much.  

[hippydave]

beat me to it GrannyJanny ;D

[Tortoise]

 Wow, what a response! Thanks everyone.

Betty, your site is fab, unfortunately nothing like that for my 2 nearest allotment sites, just a worrying rumor back in may  on a local forum that the council may be looking to sell the site nearest me for development (wouldn't surprise me with our council)

I go by the site every day at about 7/7.30 am and again about 4.45 - 5.30 but never seen anyone yet, perhaps I'll have a prolonged lurk next Saturday and I'll definitely check out the book recommendation.

Thanks again

[pigeonseed]

I think that sounds like plenty of time.

I work and have two small children and I can only do a morning on Sat or Sun. I've been slowly working my way through the brambles and have 3/4 of the plot productive now (about 6.5 rods, which is a bit more than a half plot, a fairly typical size in my experience). And I had a bad back when I started so could only do one hour at a time! But I nibbled away at it.

I've realised, talking to other plot holders, that this is quite normal - lots of people have very healthy and productive 'weekend allotments'.

If you love gardening, you'll come consistently, week in week out and this is probably what makes it work. Though you might not have a plot that would win a beauty contest - that's probably reserved for those with a little more time!

Definitely call the council and ask about sites and waiting lists. If you want to, you could have a great allotment.

[lincsyokel2]

Wow, what a response! Thanks everyone.

Betty, your site is fab, unfortunately nothing like that for my 2 nearest allotment sites, just a worrying rumor back in may  on a local forum that the council may be looking to sell the site nearest me for development (wouldn't surprise me with our council)

I go by the site every day at about 7/7.30 am and again about 4.45 - 5.30 but never seen anyone yet, perhaps I'll have a prolonged lurk next Saturday and I'll definitely check out the book recommendation.

Thanks again

if its council owned land they cant sell it without the permission of the Home Secretary, and they are never going to it.

[1066]

Hi Tortoise - I remember wondering the same thing before I got my plot. A lot depends on how overgrown it is, but having had my plot for 3 years, and looking at what you want to do I'd say go for it. If you are worried about the time needed, grow things that don't need lots of attention - you mentioned spuds, a good one there, but maybe consider fruit bushes and strawberries - very little effort, and lots of reward.

I'd get your name down on the list asap - that way you can ponder on it a bit more, and if things change you can always say no. But somehow I don't think you will  ;) Hope your prolonged lurking pays off  :)

1066  :)

[shirlton]

I would agree with 1066 about growing things that don't need a lot of attention apart from weeding which unfortunately takes up most of our time (we do have two plots) so pray for some slow growing weeds while planning what to plant ;D
Welcome to A4A

[potatoehead]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but as a noob myself waiting for a plot, thought i could ask here.

Is a black liner a good idea as a weed suppressant?  i have watched a lot of gardening programmes and don't seem to remember anyone using liners to block out weeds.

[GlentoranMark]

Just remember its not a race but one thing I would suggest is that you cover everything in black weed suppressant as soon as you get the plot and then work on a bit at a time.

Its taken me 2 years to get my site up and running and weeds were the biggest problem until I covered everything.

I'm sure the black bin liners would work although I bought weed suppressant from Poundstretcher, 2 rolls for £5. It took me about 10 rolls to cover my site.

[elvis2003]

youll find that most gardening methods are down to personal choice,I have never covered any of our plot,but have dug out the weeds instead. covering it only provides a cosy home for slugs and other enemies, there is no need over winter anyhow,as no weed seed will germinate then. good luck to you both for getting plots soon!

[shirlton]

We have never covered our plot because I simply dont like to see the plastic.

[lincsyokel2]

We have never covered our plot because I simply dont like to see the plastic.

depends if you have an allotment for the aesthetic qualities or the production ability. Personally i make mine produce food from every square inch. What it looks like is irrelevant  8)

[elvis2003]

we like ours to both look good AND be as productive as possible,dont we all?

[Tortoise]

Thanks everyone

Still no reply from the LA but to be fair it hasn't been a week yet since I first enquired.

Unfortunately, despite officially not having decided yet that i want an allotment, my modest plans (read fantasies) have expanded to include Leeks garlic Carrots & parsnips, Rhubarb of course and maybe some butternut squash and one day celery, i think I'm getting a little carried away. I want Gooseberries too but the example copy of the tenancy agreement on line states no fruit trees or bushes :(

Hope there's a plot available soon, think i need the overgrown reality and some hard work to keep my grandiose schemes in check. There seemed to be a few rather neglected plots on my chosen site from what I could see while hanging over the gate this morning. from reading this site I know that doesn't necessarily mean I'll be offered a plot anytime soon but it gives me hope.

[potatoehead]

Thanks everyone

Still no reply from the LA but to be fair it hasn't been a week yet since I first enquired.

Unfortunately, despite officially not having decided yet that i want an allotment, my modest plans (read fantasies) have expanded to include Leeks garlic Carrots & parsnips, Rhubarb of course and maybe some butternut squash and one day celery, i think I'm getting a little carried away. I want Gooseberries too but the example copy of the tenancy agreement on line states no fruit trees or bushes :(

Hope there's a plot available soon, think i need the overgrown reality and some hard work to keep my grandiose schemes in check. There seemed to be a few rather neglected plots on my chosen site from what I could see while hanging over the gate this morning. from reading this site I know that doesn't necessarily mean I'll be offered a plot anytime soon but it gives me hope.

Stay optomistic m8

[Digeroo]

Welcome to the new members.  I think that you may need to consider extra hours for watering if the weather becomes very hot and dry.  But if you pass at 7:30 perhaps you can get there earlier it is a lovely time of the morning.  I used to garden before work and feel it really set me up for the day.

Waiting lists can be long and what look like abandoned plots seem to be frustratingly not available as quickly as you might hope. I hope that things work out for you.  You do not say which part of the country you are talking about.