we are new to allotments and this is our first year. We managed to grow a wide variety of vegetables and were just begining to get our first crops in. Then came the rain and our plot flooded, all over about 6" deep, it appears to be the lowest in the allotment, of course we lost all our crops. Question is how do we install effective drainage at a reasonable cost? Any advice will be gratefully received. :-\ :-\
Oh No! Poor you. That must have been devastating for you. Drainage problems are the sort of 'mens' problems I leave to my better half Ava, however, a really simple thing would be to dig a ditch at the lowest point of the plot so the water would collect there.
Wow, I just googled flooding on allotments and up sprung a trillion different sites all about flooding! Have brain ache now.
I am sure someone out there has had to make a drainage system on their plot so will come along shortly and tell you their tale.
Emma Jane,
Thanks for your response, i will try to google flooding as well but my computer skills are not very good. :)
The long option is to dig down quite a way, chuck in brick, lumps of concrete, rubble, etc. Then dig in lots of grit to the soil that goes on top.
Alternatively - how about raised beds with extra grit in for drainage?
What type of soil do you have?
good luck - it does sound awful.
Hi Pilbeam....get the landlord to pay...the Council or whoever should not be letting off plots susceptible to flooding.Ask for compensation of ruined crops.See a solicitor on No Win No Fee basis.Seeds plus time repayment or the cost of buying the fruit and veg you have lost.It could be that drainage ditches should have been provided.It could be in your tenancy agreement that you are not allowed to drain off just anywhere, so possibly the plotholder uphill from you(and subject to the same agreement) is doing wrong.You can't lose.
Thanks everybody for your replies, at least i dont feel so alone now. Bricks and stuff seems to be the way forward. :D
At our site several of the plots flood, the bottom of mine included! Council put in so-called drainage, they still flood! Most of us have dug ditches around, to try to divert the water! I have gone the upwards route, and have made mine into raised beds (using wood)in the past year. Has certainly helped the wet end! ;D Good luck Pilbeam! DP
Thanks for all the help, it looks like it's going to be either raised beds or dig a ditch. :'( :'(