Allotments 4 All

How much time do you spend on your allotment and how often do you go. I realise this will vary from season to season.

I went to visit a site yesterday, it was fantastic and I feel all fired up with enthusiasm. The only problem is I am beginning to grudgingly admit I may not have time to do it justice. The sensible side of me tells me to do as much as I can in the garden this year, the reckless side of me is shouting GO FOR IT!

So quite undecided yet. I'm waiting to hear whether they have any plots vacant. A plot is much bigger than I had thought. When I went yesterday I looked at a couple of beds that seemed to be sectioned together and thought "now that's a managable size". When OH asked how big a plot was and the lady gestured over the area, it was about 20 times that big. She said they start first timers off on a half plot.

How long is a piece of string!
I find sometimes I feel annoyed I don't get up there enough and run out of daylight, other times (especially in watering season!) that I get truly fed up with trudging up every night to stick cans of water on everything. But you could just as easily get fed up with going to a gym... and this is weightlifting with a purpose!

Starting on a half plot is very good. I had a half, of which 1/3 was fruit (several apples and lots of blackcurrants and gooseberries and rhubarb) so I only needed to deal with 2/3 really. 

Four months after I got it I had to buy a second freezer. I've now got another half plot, of which half is currently under carpet or fruit.  I have jam supplies for the whole year, pickled onions, pickled garlic...

At this time of year I spend a silly amount of time up there, as preparation is the key (And I like being there!). About 6 hours a day last weekend, pruning and weeding the orchard. Get rid of the annual weeds now before they get big enough to seed, and keep them down, and the rest of the season is just maintenance and picking ;D  Of course this doesn't happen in the first year or so as you're always busy trying to get the place cleared in the first place! But after that, it becomes a LOT easier.  I clear a bed and then bung carpet on it, which stops it growing 6 million weeds as soon as my back's turned...

I didn't do much to the second plot last year (when I got it) and it did look a mess.  Wish I'd carpeted it better, as it would have made this year a lot easier. The other nice part about covering is that it doesn't spread weeds on everyone else's plots.

I think the bottom line is if you carpet the bits you're not digging over, it will kill the weeds and make it easier for when you do get round to it. Go gradually, uncovering a bit, digging it then either plant it up or cover again.  Eventually you realise it's all done...  without you taking 2 months off. 

Sorry this is a bit of a ramble.  Peek at my blog diary if you want a laugh at my first attempts... including the great cauli net hats and the waist-high grass... not to mention the concrete daffodil bed and rants about speedwell...

moonbells
(www.moonbells.com)

Winter time, at least twice a week, weather permitting.  Spring, daily would be ideal, but at least 4 times a week for 3 to 4 hours each visit.  Summer is tricky as the kids are off school so it tends to be a couple of hours in the evenings, 3 or 4 times a week, and at least one full day every weekend, and I mean getting there at 8am or earlier and leaving at dusk.  Autumn, depends on what there is still growing or needing planting.  I try to have something up there year round for harvesting, so I do need to go and keep things tidy, plus the shed constantly needs sorting, trees need tidying up, compost needs spreading and so on.  In September number one son starts school full time, so I fear I will be up the plot from 9am until 3pm daily! 

Oh, a p.s.  really, just wanted to say, I get up there as often as possible because I adore being there.  I am usually alone with the birds and my thoughts and am happiest when I am outside.  If the weather is poor, or if there really isn't anything more I can do up on the plot, then I would spend just as long in the garden, greenhouse or pottering with my plants in the conservatory.  I am obsessed I fear!

If you are allowed a shed on the plot, that will help - not necessarily for storage, but for shelter in those april showers those in the southeast will get if they do the raindance! One weekend, I just spent a couple of hours watching the birdies eating the seeds and nuts I put out for them! It was just sooooo peaceful and relaxing watching them.

Perhaps do a small amount at a time, but frequently. The method called square foot gardening deals with sections 4 foot by 4 foot - not a lot, but you can easily clear that amount, weed it, check the plants, etc - and you may feel that you have achieved something.

Some people on the plot just pop in to top up the compost bins - 5 mins or so! Other times, they will dig, weed, sow/plant for hours!

i am looking forward to the lighter evenings from next week onwards.
so far, only have opportunity to go to the plot on the weekend - but this cannot go on all the time - we have plans for spending days out on weekends, too :-\

but, doing an hour every day of whatever needs doing between me coming home and dinner time doesnt seem like a bad idea (at least at the moment)

if it stops being fun, i have probably overdone it, so....be careful :)

svea

I think that having an allotment is a bit like housework.   It  will totally absorb any time at all that you have to spend on it.  :-\

Took on my plot in Oct last year. Have spent 2 or so hours down there most weekends, occasionaly extend that to 4 hours. Have dug half of a 5-pole plot, with some help from Mr M. Have also taken a couple of afternoons off work to do some digging/planting. I expect I will be spending time down there in evenings on the way home from work once the days are longer.

You could always just cultivate a small section now, and grow a little of what you want to, and work on digging over more as you go along.

Go for it I say  ;D ;D

Thanks for your replies.

Oh Moggle the sensible side of me was just winning! You see I have a horse to look after as well and he does come first, as well as a full time job. I do have an endless supply of horse poo though!

I think I have more or less decided (well until I change my mind again) to dig up a bit more lawn at home and get some more veg in. I don't want to take up an allotment when there may be someone wanting one who could make better use of it.

Also, at home I can make loads of stupid mistakes without feeling anyone is looking over my shoulder. I know it's probably not like that and there would be people to ask, but I can't be pestering the others all the time. If I learn at home then I can look into an allotment when I am a little more proficient.

I've just started on my new plot. Unfortunately the timing was lousy and my OH has now been diagnosed seriously unwell, so is unable to go at all and this will be the case all season. I have been for a couple of hours each Sunday for the last few weekends to try to restore some order to a very small section of the plot.

I also have a lot to do at weekends, aside from looking after OH. During the week I run my own business (with my OH when he was well enough), then weekends and evenings also have to accommodate housework, diy, visiting family 50 miles away, tending my handkerchief-sized garden, shopping... oh yes, and relaxing  :-\

So for now, I'm just doing a few square feet at a time, and if the rest doesn't get done then never mind. At least I'll get some crops in this year.  :)

Quote from: Mimi on March 22, 2005, 11:49:18
I think that having an allotment is a bit like housework.   It  will totally absorb any time at all that you have to spend on it.  :-\

Wow Mimi, you have an allotment and still remember what housework is!!! :) :)

You have my sympathy Dawn.  I'm not v well at the mo and a new lotty supposedly on the go.  I run my own businesses too.  I have quite big gardens as well which haven't seen any action at all this year and looking like it too

Still, you can't do everything.  My mum's been in hospital too for weeks and I have to make time to see her each day and you end up feel exhaused without feeling that you've achieved anything.

Now if I was back on the plot the world would be well and ordered restored :)

Hope things improve for you soon and your OH will soon be well  :)

Thanks Wardy - It's going to be a long haul. I worried at first about not getting stuff done - both on and off the allotment. But i've now taken the attitude that it will either get done or it won't, and it's not going anywhere so there's plenty of time. A refreshing release once I accepted that I was not superwoman!!!

Hope both you and your Mum are better soon.

With two young children its hard to get up there, but I've been trying to do one teip during the week with the girls, then one long stint at the weekend, during the week is about 2 hours if I'm lucky, weekend about 4 hours or so.  Now the weather is getting better I'm hoping to take my girls up there twice in the week instead as they start to have more to occupy them rather than shivering whenever they stop running around! 

Firstly hope you guys and your respectives get well soon.  I have a plot and a half which I share with my sister.  We do four hours a weekend at the mo.  When the evenings are lighter we will be going after work (we are both full time).  Normally about three night s a week and end up eating whatever we have picked at the lotty for dinner leaving when it gets too dark to see who's lurking about.
Roll on summer.