Yet more allotment choice advice, if you have the patience!

[Seahorse]

Well, I have been for a look at the allotments I've been offered (for anyone who hasn't read my other thread, I'm in a free for all with others on our local waiting list and it's 'first come, first served'). To be honest, it hasn't really helped me make up my mind!

I've posted some pics and brief pros/cons here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11566783@N07/

None of them are fantastic but then again, I didn't expect them to be. If anyone has the time and patience for a look through the pics, I'd be grateful for your opinion.

I've even further complicated things for myself for going for a look round my very favourite allotment site again! It's a very well kept and popular place but I had the good fortune to meet a 'man who knows' who was able to tell me about a plot that the current tenant had been to only once and also a plot that NO-ONE has had for years. Now, said plot is so overgrown that I hadn't even realised it *was* a plot but on close inspection, I found it looked to be not only a decent growing space but also had two sheds concealed under the rampant brambles! It would be a mighty amount of work to clear it but for me that would be amply compensated by the fact of being on such a lovely site. I am going to enquire about both first thing monday morning.

However, I suspect one of the above pics is my best bet for now, so any/all advice and opinions appreciated!

(On a less confused note, I did get to the offy and now have a bottle of something with a vaguely Scottish picture on the front in the cupboard ).

Claire

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Clare,

Plot 104 looks to have things growing still and less weeds from what I can make out, flooding could be an issue does ir flood often?

112 looks good but only a half plot, maybe too small.

Good luck, Mandy

PS, enjoy your wee dram!

[carlseawolf]

103 it's a blank canvas , a good start as you can plan what you want instead of having other peoples past designs

[PAULW]

Seahorse
I like 104 out of all of them,
107 would be a pain having conifers in the middle
108 and 112 trees down the side of the plot would take out moisture
41 no telling what the heap is made up of could be a lot of donkey work for little reward
34 not a bad looking plot and there are ways around the clubroot especially with the introduction of resistant cabbage and cauliflower

[Snadger]

I know it's hard to tell from a photograph but I would agree with PAULW.

I would plum for plot 104. It has an open aspect and is fenced which means less expenditure on fencing and no arguments from neighbours as fence is already there. Not shaded or flooded and a chicken house as well!

Just remember, all the ones that are flooded or shaded or have clubroot will put limits on to what you can grow.

PS Just had another look, only misgivings would be the flooding problem! Is it all the plot that floods?

[seasprout]

I would have picked 104 as well. It appears the lesser of several evils.

However your other site sounds interesting as well. bribe them to hurry up and let you have a plot there.

[Seahorse]

Thanks for all the good advice so far! I think I agree that 103 or 104 would appear to be my best bets but it really helps to have expert agreement! Unfortunately the flooding is a problem for pretty much the whole site. We're a rather flat area anyway and the allotments themseves are surrounded by drainage ditches. Plots 34 and 41 are a little further away from water but as 34 has club root and 41 looks like a complete disaster area, it's all a bit 'you pays your money, you takes your choice'

I'm not certain but I presume I could accept one of these plots but leave my name on the waiting list for the smarter sites (even if it meant dropping back down to the bottom).

Claire

[SarzWix]

Are you sure that you would drop to the bottom of the other lists? I was on 2 lists in my area & six months after I accepted one on the closer site, I had a call to offer me one on the other site. Anyway, I would definately badger about the plots on the site you want, while going through with the paperwork and faffing for whichever plot you choose (I'd say 103 personally - no derelict shack to get rid of/repair). In my experience, constantly showing your face, asking questions, explaining how you would cope with a massive clear-up job etc., makes it seem like a good idea to give you a plot! I mysteriously slid to the top of the list on my preferred site, after walking my dog past the plot of the allotment secretary nearly every day for 6 months...
Good luck!

[Seahorse]

Sarah, I really don't know whether I'd drop down the other lists or not The one where I've been offered plots and the one I really want to be on are sort of 'A & B' neighbouring sites (it's a mystery why they're so different in character!) so I don't know if the waiting list is joint or seperate.

I've got a long list of questions for the allotments officer tomorrow!

I don't mind the shack on 104 btw. It's fairly grotty but I quite like a challenge - plus it would be a pain to get a new shed on site as I don't drive.

Claire

[carlseawolf]

have 2 plots , get 1 on this site now then if another one gets offered to you on another site then take it as well . best not leave picking your plot to late or the one you want may go and then be left with the rubbish .
BETTER TO HAVE A PATCH OF SOIL THIS YEAR TO DIG THAN FIND OUT YOU HAVE ANOTHER YEAR TO WAIT FOR YOUR PREFERED SITE .

[Seahorse]

Absolutely Carl - I was thinking lastnight that if I take 'any old plot' and just plant single season stuff (ie no fruit bushes or anything) then I can use that until I can get the site I really want.

I probably wouldn't keep two plots in the longer term but I'm sure I could manage to have two on the go for as long as it took for all the crops on the first one to mature

Claire

[Snadger]

I don't mind the shack on 104 btw. It's fairly grotty but I quite like a challenge - plus it would be a pain to get a new shed on site as I don't drive.

Claire

It's got 'Character' !!!! Thats what I keep telling people about mine!

[NOG]

Are you going to keep chickens?

I would go 104, 108 then 103.

104 for the chicken house
108 for the apple tree
103 cos its a blank canvas.

[Seahorse]

I wouldn't want to keep chickens, no. I grew up on a farm and the hens we had were the most vicious little b*s I've ever known. I'm sure some folk have delightful, friendly chooks but keeping them isn't for me! I had a poke about in 104's chook house though and with a thorough clean I think it would serve well enough for a place to keep basic tools and have a wee

Glad you mentioned the apple tree though, cos that will be a good compensation for me should the full plots all be gone when I ring up tomorrow

Claire

[Snadger]

Whichever plot you get, if any, you've made a good start with record keeping ie pictures before, during and after!