Smallest allotment ever?

[cornish crabber]

I've been given a patch on a Community " Neighbourhoods for Change" project at our local Allotment site (I'm on the waiting list for a 'proper' allotment).
It's just 5 metres by 3 metres! and I can only access it by one of the short sides. Is this the smallest ever?
I've put a path down one long side and divided the rest up into 4 beds each 90cms by 2.6 metres, with access paths between.
Well, it's a start and the rent is only £2 for the first year and £5 thereafter. Also there are 2 shared sheds and a small polytunnel and compost bins in the project area so it's pretty good really. And I hope, if I behave myself, it may stand to my benefit when proper allotments become available.

[Growem]

Congrats on getting the space! I actually think it's a great size to get used to allotments. Large enough to plant more than just a row of dwarf beans, small enough that you can easily keep up with it. Getting 9x20 metres or larger can be a tough way to start! And as you say, if you can keep up this little plot, it can only hold you in good stead for the waiting list for a bigger one.

[-pat m]

I've been given a patch on a Community " Neighbourhoods for Change" project at our local Allotment site (I'm on the waiting list for a 'proper' allotment).
It's just 5 metres by 3 metres! and I can only access it by one of the short sides. Is this the smallest ever?
I've put a path down one long side and divided the rest up into 4 beds each 90cms by 2.6 metres, with access paths between.
Well, it's a start and the rent is only £2 for the first year and £5 thereafter. Also there are 2 shared sheds and a small polytunnel and compost bins in the project area so it's pretty good really. And I hope, if I behave myself, it may stand to my benefit when proper allotments become available.

I think it is a great package all-in-all!

Use all the space all the time - snadgers advice here will get you thinking about adapting your plot to year round gardening - and using the poly tunnel to bring things on that can be put in as soon as you pull the first crop will be great (although you will need a good plan). A great project to be involved with good luck

Pat

[rainbowbrite]

fab news on getting a space, a great starting point, there is tons you can do with that space and i'm sure the more imaginative you are the more you'll get out of it, good luck and keep us updated with photies

[Eyren]

I'm not sure about "smallest ever" - one of my gardening books (can't remember which one) cites community gardens in the States where a plot the size of an office desk is considered large

My back garden only has two 2m x 1m beds and some patio space, but I reckon that per sq metre it's more productive than my allotment because I grow smaller plants like spring onions and baby carrots. In fact, I just got Charles Dowding's new book for my birthday, and he recommends that people wanting to grow salad should actually scale back their growing area. He uses successional planting and cut-and-come-again harvesting of lettuces to get an enormous amount of salad from a couple of raised beds.

I would recommend checking your local library or bookshops for books that cover growing in a small space - as well as Charles Dowding's book "Salad Leaves for All Seasons", there's "Grow Your Own Veg" by Carol Klein (which covers a project done at Ryton Gardens as well as general veg-growing info), and of course "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew - and no doubt loads of others.

Enjoy your new plot!

[cornish crabber]

Thanks for your advice and encouragement. I certainly intend to get as much as possible from it. Managed to get a nice tilth on my beds much to the delight of the local cats!! So I spent the weekend making frames covered with chicken netting to keep the little darlings off.