Allotments 4 All

Hello everyone

We have just taken on a allotment.  It looks a good soil although a little on the clay side.
My question is vegetable bed sizes? I am going to split the plot into beds and am thinking of 10x4 is this a good size or should I aim bigger.

Thanks Pete

4ft width is a good size as this should allow you to reach into the middle. We have 3ft width beds, but I am only little! 4ft is an okay size for spuds and larger brassicas too. Anything smaller is a real push.

hiya, Them be plants, nice to meet you  ;D
our beds are 4' wide by between 12 and 17'..suits us  ;D

Welcome to A4A Pete...  :)

Welcome to A4A Pete. Where  abouts are you?

We are in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire. The plots we are on are about 3 months old so not very established at the moment.

I find 5 ft wide better!

Try this;

Kneel down at the side of a bed, reach forward as if weeding make a mark in the soil at the furthest point you can reach comfortably.

Measure the distance from the mark to the edge of the bed and double it and this is the best width for you.

Welcome to the site.....and happy birthday! :D

I have 4' wide raised beds because that was the size of the pallets we made them from, and 8' long too. On my half plot the beds are 11' long, purely because that was the size of some old decking we had to make them with! You don't have to edge the beds of course, see what you can fit in on your plot with adequate paths to push a wheelbarrow along.... ;D

Lots of people here have nice hoops to cover things with netting.  I dug my beds too narrow and so it is difficult to net.  Also I am running out of space, so I have now begun to dig up some of the paths between the plots.  While in others there is no passage possible because the plants have filled the space.

There seems to be s split here between the people who plant rows right across their allotments and those who grow in little rectangles. We here on the opposite side of Gloucestershire have also been going for 3 months.   I would like to visit some established allotments to see how they are operated. 

QuoteI would like to visit some established allotments to see how they are operated. 

It might not be practicle for you to visit my plots Digeroo but you are welcome to have a look at them here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Allotment/allotment.html

My beds are also 4ft wide, that's about the minimum width for having 2 rows of potatoes. Also important is the gap between beds which you need to fit in kneeling.

Another good example of how to arrange an allotment can be seen if you look at Deb P's gallery. Just as i moved off this thread there was a lovely picture on the random image and when I clicked on it I found it was Deb's allotment. What a fantastic looking allotment, i've seen the shed before but hadn't really looked at the rest it looks fantastic!

Aw shucks..... :-[

You will find folk are very divided on the raised bed vs. long rows systems, just to be contrary I have both on my plot! ;D

We don't do raised beds as Tone likes to dig everywhere including the paths. Think you will find a lot of folks on here garden that way. Welcome to the site Pete. You wont forget what month it was when you joined will you. Happy Birthday ;D

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome and your advice.

I am going with the 10x4 beds as this seems most comfortable for me. I can actually fit 21 in altogether. So getting these sorted for next season is my goal this year. Oh and a shed a composter a pond a cold frame or two god the list is never ending

I've just seen this thread, so welcome and good luck Pete.     ;D ;D ;D