Allotments 4 All

It’s my first year on the plot and I’d be grateful for some advice on etiquette.

I’ve been offered some cabbage plants by a neighbour but I’ve filled my beds with everything I wanted this year. I have 2 beds spare â€" those I had planned to continue digging and weeding so they are in a better state for next season.

So the question is, should I decline the plants and explain I’ve no room (even though 2 beds are empty) or accept, to save causing any embarrassment or bad feeling between me and my neighbouring plot holder?

I've already had to make my choice but I'd be interested to see what the general concensus would be.

I decline, unless I feel I can make good use of the plants offered. I have one neighbour who regularly offers me stuff, and I regularly accept too, paying in kind either with produce he doesnt grow (eg onions) or other goods, or assistance. Excess seedlings etc are a natural outcome of gardening, so it is natural to pass them on when one has enough. Just explain that you feel you have planted enough at the moment ...

Derek :)

When I've offered spare plants, people either want them, or don't, and say so politely, and I've never been offended. Likewise I sometimes accept plants and sometimes don't, and it's easy to explain that you have other plans for your empty beds.

What I find galling is when people accept the plants and then they grow better than mine......

I'm with Curry

Just a thought or warning if you like;

I never accept brassicas from anyone for fear of introducing 'club root' on to my plot.

I am not saying that what you have been offered has club root, but by not accepting them you are are then quite sure!!

If you are ever short of plants and may want to take some on board it is worth keeping your eyes and ears open on the plots to see if anyone does suffer from this terrible disease. Then when you are offered anything you will be in a better position to accept or decline.

Quote from: Tee Gee on June 11, 2007, 18:24:33
I'm with Curry

Just a thought or warning if you like;

I never accept brassicas from anyone for fear of introducing 'club root' on to my plot.

I am not saying that what you have been offered has club root, but by not accepting them you are are then quite sure!!

If you are ever short of plants and may want to take some on board it is worth keeping your eyes and ears open on the plots to see if anyone does suffer from this terrible disease. Then when you are offered anything you will be in a better position to accept or decline.

I hadn't thought about that - he had quite a few spring cabbage going well when I first got my plot in February - how would I know if there was a club root problem?

Dig them up to find out  ::) ::) ::)

Quote from: asbean on June 11, 2007, 18:39:12
Dig them up to find out  ::) ::) ::)

Made me laugh.  ;D

Decline nicely and say it was kind of you to ask, I don't have a problem with a no.I do have a problem when someone accepts my rare squash or rare types of beans or toms, then leaves them to dry up in their pots,never to be grown.XX Jeannine

Quote from: artichoke on June 11, 2007, 18:19:43
What I find galling is when people accept the plants and then they grow better than mine......

Funny you should say that, I grew enough Pumpkins to give everybody on our site one and while theirs are growing at amazing rates mine is dead.  :'(

I managed to grow 5 burpless cukes, planted mine all nice and snug..the two I gave away, 1 was left in the pot 'til nearly dead popped in a growbag..he's eating his cukes now..the other was planted outside, he's eating his cukes..ours..three small, thin excuses !!  :o ;D

I was very pleased the other day when one of my neighbours offered me some broccoli plants. Thrilled, even, as I have had so much trouble with some of the people on my site. I had sown some broccoli but it is only coming thorugh so I will have two lots, with luck, nice. I haven't got much to give away to others yet, hopefully if I get parsnips I can share a few around to the others as they are pretty much unknown here. My neighbour was given a strawberry by my young son, which she declared to be delicious, so he was delighted. She has kindly offered me some poppy seeds for next year.
I can't see anyone being offended if you didn't want a particular plant, I guess it depends on how you say it, that's all. It's nice to see a friendly system operating though, you should be grateful for it!

Thanks all. I accepted and will look after them - just hope there isn't a problem with club root.

Hi there, this post made me laugh. When i got my plot my neighbour gave me 4 artichoke plants - we all hate artichokes in my house so now i feel guilty for taking something that i won't eat just coz i was too much of a wuss to say no! He then gave me 6 blackberry canes so balance was partly restored!
Then someone else came to say hi bearing a ball of string as a gift which i thought was also lovely, then i managed to refuse toms from the chap opposite as i had loads and offered him radishes of which he had loads so we just had a bit of a larf about it.  ;D
The lady just over from me came over last week with the most enormous bunch of sweet williams which are just fabulous. I've never grown them before but am sowing some now for next year. Love lottie life.  ;D ;D 8)