Advice on owning an Allotment

[teamladd]

Hi all,

Yesterday I was offered a plot, it wont be ready for working on until the end of the year as it is part of the Landshare scheme as has to be divided into plots etc.

I understand that owning a plot is a lot of work, but I want to know exactly how much work. How many times a week do you all go to yours etc. I am a 24 year old man with a lovely fiance who will help out. We both work full time but are quite capable of working hard. The plot is also only a few minutes away in the car, making it easy to get to in the evenings.

Any help/advice will be great.

[Two_Sheds]

oh, first off, you don't own it, you rent it. So you can be turfed off if you don't keep it up.

There are some older threads on here about how long everyone spends. Me, I am up there every day at the moment, doing an hour or two weeding and harvesting and planting.

[Snadger]

Congratulations teamladd! Like TS I am at the allotment every day, but I have to be cos I have chooks there.
If it's close by just treat it like you would your garden and even half an hour a day should keep it in tip top condition!

[Lazgaot]

It depends how big your plot is and what you grow on it really. When I first got mine I spent 2-4 hrs every other day and 5 or so hours on Sunday for a few weeks to get it cleared and dug. That was hard work and its done for good.

I work full time and run the plot 99% of the time on my own. I currently spend 2-5 hrs on Sunday, 2-3 hrs on Tuesday and an hour or so in the week harvesting.

Once your beds and paths are established you just have to keep on top of the weeding, sowing and harvesting, which you can do all at the same time. If you fancy trying no-digging have a read of Charles Dowding's book.

Good luck.

[teamladd]

Thanks for your replies, I should of said that it is being rotivated before I start to do anything on it. When that is done, I will lay some paths with paving slabs that I got from freecycle today. I have made a couple of raised beds at home. So I will probably use these/make some more to.

[NOG]

I go up Saturday Morning, Sometimes on a sunday and two or three evening.

[Lazgaot]

Depending on when you can actually plant anything on/in it you should try and plan for next year. You should be able to plant overwintering garlic and onion as well as broad beans to get something in this year, though nothing shows for weeks.
If you have a green house it is an invaluable aid in raising seedlings early and safe away from the slugs on the plot.

[nikiwitch]

my partner and I share one with my mum and stepdad, we all spend about 4 hours there on a sunday, and depending on what needs doing an hour or so one evening a week, plus watering time

[MrsC]

Hi Teamladd,

Congrats on getting your lottie! You put in whatever time you can. One thing at a time and it will come together. The main thing is enjoy it! The only bit of advice I would give is not to cut corners with the prep work, it's worth it in the end. If your plot is not going to be available 'til the end of the year, plan now what you want to plant, (not sure if the site will be ready for planting or not?) Have fun and take lots of pics.

Sue x

[MrsC]

Sorry Teamladd just re-read the thread and u said it would be rotavated! Get some plans for what u can sow x

[teamladd]

Thanks all, if its being rotavated I wont need to do much work will I? Perhaps just remove any big stones etc?

[zazen999]

Thanks all, if its being rotavated I wont need to do much work will I? Perhaps just remove any big stones etc?

*giggles

Yes, you will have work to do as the rotavator chops up any weed roots and multiplies them. If you spend the first year keeping it weed free [keep hoeing and pulling out perennials], then the second year is SO much easier. You'll always have weeds, as nature doesn't work in a vacuum - so weed seeds will germinate where the soil is bare.

If you are putting paths down - so that as soon as you can and start walking on them to compact the newly rotavated soil.

As weeds come up, pull them out if you can whilst the soil is still loose.

If you aren't going to grow anything for a while, in that space, then cover with newspaper/cardboard, to keep the weeds from growing.

If you are getting it at the back end of the year, you are really starting in the Spring, so I'd say the first crop in will be spuds.

And at this time of year, we are up there every day or every other day.

[jacob marley]

Congrats on getting a start in allottmenteering and it looks like you are going to give it a go the only advice i can give is enjoy it and one day when you hand it back make sure it is in good heart for the next generation to carry on with....jacob

[lozza_9]

Congratulations on your new plot.

I manage to get down to my plot most weekends for a couple of hours and go down most evenings to water.

The advice I would give is don't try and do too much in one go. I have had my plot 3 years and I have never had the whole plot dugg over and planted. Its great fun but also hard work.

Lorraine

[Mrs Dobby]

When we first started we spent every available minute for 6 months clearing and double digging a plot that had been neglected for 18 months, it was 8' deep in weeds, brambles, bindweed, thistles and the like!

Nowadays with 2 full plots that are pretty much where we want them to be we find we're up there a lot in spring, digging, planting and sowing, but once thats done, then its normalls a day or two a week hoeing and weeding, which lets us stay on top of it! Once we start full harvesting tho, then it'll be a bit more time aswell, but tis fun to harvest!

Good luck with the new plot, hope you get something growing this year, theres nothing better to provide inspiration than to harvest something you've grown in your plot from scratch!