Allotments 4 All

hi all, sorry for another thread but i did try to search for what i was after  :)

i am going to look at a plot tonight and was wondering if there is any questions that I should be asking!!

is there any questions that you wished you had asked in hindsight ?

thanks for looking


Ian

As a starter, I'd suggest:

1.  Where is the water supply?  Is it included in the costs?
2.  Are you able to keep chickens / bees (if you're interested)?
3.  Are there any restrictions on what you can grow (e.g. trees / bushes)
4.  Are there toilet facilities on site?
5.  Do they have problems with vandalism?
6.  Are there any social events throughout the year?
7.  Generally, anything they suggest won't grow well (it's carrots on our site, apparently)
8.  Are there regular skips provided for non-compostable waste?
9.  What are the expectations of you as the plot holder (e.g. do they have work days, do you have to lock the gates when you're inside)?
10.  Are there any rules on errecting structures (e.g. sheds / greenhouses / polytunnels?
11.  Is there a 'central' arrangement for buying & sharing manure?
12.  What are the rules around 'side path' maintenance (e.g. do you look after the one to the left of your plot)?
13.  Is there a deposit to pay for the key?
14.  Does anyone have any spare plants / seeds?   :)   Worth a try.


Obviously, they'll cover how much the rent is & when it's due.

I assume they'll also provide a copy of their tenancy agreement for you to read / sign.

That's all I can think of for now.  Best of luck tonight - let us know how it goes.

check to see if the plot is in shade at all,ours is half in shade,due to huge trees,we were so over excited we didnt even notice them at the time  :-[  :-[  :-[

Think about potential problems I have a hedge beside mine and that is fine but did not notice a set of lime trees in the middle.

What is the soil like?

Are the neighbours friendly?

What are the major pests?

thanks for the replies, some good questions that i would never of thought of asking  :)

will let you know how it goes  :)

Also ask,
are bonfires allowed, if so are there any restrictions (eg not allowed during the summer months)
is there a field/site management committee and do they have an agm
is there car parking available
is there a regular newsletter and/or notice board so you can be kept aware of anything that's happening
is there any 'association' which provides benefits (eg a trading store)
is there any field owned equipment available for hire (eg powered mowers, strimmers, rotavators) by plot holders

Shade can be good - lots of people are envious on hot days, when their plots are like a desert, that one of mine shades over gradually from early afternoon. Peas, beans, bush fruit, strawberries, potatoes, onions, leeks, everything continues to grow.

However I did take on a half plot further up the hill so that I could bask in late afternoon sunshine if I felt like it.

When I show new folks round, I cover most - if not all - of the points made by both irnhead & lavenderlux. If the person you meet doesn't give you a lot of info, it might be worth wondering why. (Don't they know? Aren't they interested? Doesn't it happen?)

I think more than asking questions, look around. Is it a vibrant and friendly site? Does someone say hello to you before you do to them? Are people talking? Are people there? Do plot-holders interrupt and ask whoever is showing you round a question? Get the vibes....

well its mine, im now the proud owner of am allotment, or i will be when i sign the tenancy  :D

site seems nice, in an area where i grew up, and 3 plots down from a smallholding that my dad used to have many years ago  8) ;D

site is sunny most of the day with some partial shade from a few trees in the late evening, neighbours seem friendly, apart from the next door who i havent met, but has already tried to pinch a few inches from the boundary path  >:(  ;D wont be having that  :P

plot already contains a healthy head of weeds  :o and a couple of bits of old carpet  :-\ and who knows what underneath the weeds !! soil seems ok, had a poke and a crumble so it seemed like i knew what i was doing  ;D ;D

thanks for all the replies, will try and post a pic up tomorrow  ;D to say im happy is a understatement  ;D ;D

sounds perfect- nice to be going back to your roots, in more ways than one!

thanks evryone  ;D

its a half plot, which they are doing on the whole site now if any full plots come up, they are splitting them  :)

bought some shears this morning to help tackle the weeds, going to raid my mums shed later to see what i can *cough* borrow  ;D ;D



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ask to see a copy of the tenancy agreement?

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Great news - congratulations!

Ha ha excellent photo of the site  ;D ;D ;D
You'll need more than shears, love, for those weeds! A strimmer or scythe would be better I think. Cut them down then cover what you won't use straight away, and the rest start digging them out!
Good luck and have fun

That looks like a lovely plot Misfit!  Good luck with it!  It looks pretty large!

Its funny reading this thread - when I was offered my allotment - I didn't even think of asking any questions at all!  Doh!  I was so keen to get one - even one that was really in bad shape would have seemed like heaven!!!

Luckily I took over from an old boy - who thought he was getting a better plot on the same site - he didn't realise that 90% of the success of a plot belongs with the allotment keeper and his "tricks of the trade"!  He moved on just over a year later to another site - when again he thought that he had cracked it but found a huge tree overshadowed his whole plot.  No fool like an old fool!! and I should know!

It is a huge site to the ones that we have down here with only about 20 or so plots on each!  It looks handy for driving into with cars trailers and the like.

Well I will get out of here now as you have work to do!

Good luck

Old Bird  ;D

Quote from: artichoke on June 17, 2010, 18:52:59
Shade can be good - lots of people are envious on hot days, when their plots are like a desert, that one of mine shades over gradually from early afternoon. Peas, beans, bush fruit, strawberries, potatoes, onions, leeks, everything continues to grow.

However I did take on a half plot further up the hill so that I could bask in late afternoon sunshine if I felt like it.

shade is not good when it covers literally half your plot,and not even weeds will grow in it!

A scythe was first on my list to borrow from my parents shed  ;D

thanks for the comments everyone  :)

I did try to ask lots of question but to be honest, she could of told me it mud coloured concrete and i would probably of still taken it  ;D ;D

well we went down to the allotment today to have a first go at clearing some weeds, but the lady from the allotment association came over and told us she had arranged for a couple of gentlemen to come around tomorrow and strim it over for us  ;D such a big help as im disabled and have trouble walking this will save us a lot of time  :) :)

think im going to like it here  :D

Most allotment people are lovely and helpful, enjoy.