What to look for when choosing an allotment?

[Seahorse]

I might be jumping the gun a bit (see my other post) but *if* as seems possible, I will actually have a choice of allotments, what should I look for especially?

I'm thinking:

General condition - how many weeds, what type etc
Access from the main path
Access to water
Nice neighbours (probably hard to tell on a scouting visit though!)
Whether there are tall trees nearby
Any pre-existing structures

Anything obvious that I'm missing?

And as a supplementary question, does anyone have thoughts on a triangular plot? One of the ones up for grabs is quite a long, thin triangle. I'd thought at first that it's area wasn't that big but looking more carefully on Google Earth, I reckon it's almost a full size plot. I'm wondering if it would be a pain to lay things out as efficiently as in a long rectangular plot, or if there are good things I haven't considered?

I really didn't think I'd have a choice when it came to being offered an allotment (other than 'yes' or 'no'!) so I hadn't really thought stuff like this through very thoroughly!

Any help appreciated

edited to add, they're all on the same large site, so any rules/problems with vandals etc would likely apply to all

Claire

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Seahorse,

What about site rules? Can you put a shed or greenhouse, bonfires, security? Some sites suffer from vandalism! Do they have problems with blight, clubroot. Are they organic?

P.S. Check your other thread looks like you might get alcohol after all

Good luck and get well soon, Mandy

[shirlthegirl43]

I know nothing about allotments but from reading posts on here I would suggest fruit bushes for the thin point of the triangle - they don't need quite such structured beds as I understand things. Of course, that would depend on the rules of what you can/cannot grow I guess.

Good luck with it and with all the family getting better

[Seahorse]

Mandy, I didn't make it clear but all the plots are on the same large site, so what general problems there are, will likely apply to all the ones on offer.

There are sheds, greenhouses and trees in situ on other plots, so I presume it will still be ok. I like the fruit trees idea for the pointy bit of the triangle!

Thanks for the good wishes btw, we're all feeling a lot better now

Claire

[Snadger]

Soil type can matter. The lotties close to the main gates on ours are nearly pure clay. The soil seems to get better the further you go into allotments!

Try to stay clear of plots close to main gates as vandalism can be a problem.

Sunny aspect with slight slope is good!

Clubroot infested plots can be worked around but are best avoided if possible.

Frost pockets are usually in hollows.

Flooding can be a problem on some plots.

For triangular plot think of triangular beds with paths in-between! Easier to construct than rectangular beds and quite unique!

Thats all I can think of at mo to add to your list Seahorse!

Good luck and happy allotmenteering whichever plot you eventually decide upon!

[nick the grief]

You could grow Toblerone's
I can't remember what you had in your list but the things I looked for were:-

Water - how far is it. If it's a trek you may wish to get a water carrier that they use for camping. Also I saw somewhere, and I can't remember where, that they had the Blue barrels all down one side of the allotment ( about every 10 or 15 ft) with a sort of Lych gate over it and a spouting, this was used to collect rain water to fill the butts.

Soil type - a rough idea can be gleaned from the weeds that are on the plot. Docks tend to like acid soils for instance. The amount of weeds isn't a real problem as you can always spray with round up, then dig ( removing all the weed roots) then you'll get another flush of weed seedlings that can be either hoe'd off or spray again. Also a tip I was given that seems to work. The baskets used for delivering Bread, if you can aquire some you put them upside down and put the weeds on this so they are off the ground and the Sun will dry them up then after a couple of weeks they can be added to the compost bin and the rot down - it works as well!!
We've got a soild type flowchart on the lottie site under new beginers stuff

Shed's & Greenhouses - definately a must have big as you can in both cases You need the shed to brew up in and the greenhouse is really a glorified Big Coldframe unless your retired and can go down every day to check on the heaters, but can be used for tomatoes etc in the summer.

Vehicle access - important if you want a load of Muck tipping as it's heavy stuff to Barrow a long way

Shop- Does the site have one, if so what do they have? We resurrected ours last year and it didn't do too well, it just about broke even. But this year it's took off and we have had quite a lot of money out of the shop and it is now self financing ( we've only got 64 plots remeber)

Power tools - does the site own a rotavator or can you borrow one from somewhere. It can save you loads of time in the initial stages if you are trying to fit it in with other things.

As Snadger says you can work around a site with Club root but it make it hard going althought ther are some varieties now that are supposed to be more resistant. The Security is another issue but it's more liekley to be a problem on a "quiet" site than one thats fully populated & busy. As too neighbours, if they have screaming kids running all over you don't want that. But you'll find most lottie neighbours are more than happy to help especially if you give them a bit of Bull and make them feel important and that there advice is really valuable They are quite genorous as well ( well they are on our site) and you'll come awaay with all sorts.

Hope that helps

Thats about all I can think of for the monment

[Seahorse]

Thanks Nick - more really useful stuff!

I had to smile at this though:

"As too neighbours, if they have screaming kids running all over you don't want that."

I have four kids between 2 and 10, so I'll be in no position to complain about anyone else's Lol! I must add that mine are generally quite well behaved though

Claire