Picking your plot

[jands]

Ok it's getting close, I have a meeting with the local allotment manager next week who is going to show me some vacant plots - I have assumed he is going to offer me one and not just let me look at them

Can any one offer me some realistic advice; I do know they will all be over grown so picking a nice looking one is not an option.

My basic critera will be:
Location, -on a main route from the gates so I can get the car/trailer to the plot for clearing and dropping stuff off
Water - Close (within 25m if possible)
Full plot rather than half plot - My plan is to clear half and just cover the other half until I am ready
Away from fences/roads - less likely visitors will venture into the middle of the site.
Plots around mine need to be cultivated - show soil is good and saves trouble from weeds also hopefully my neigbours will offer advice!!

Any advice will be great.

[Snadger]

Steer clear of shaded plots from either trees or buildings.
Does it flood?
Any history of clubroot or onion whiterot?
Plots nearest perimeter usually suffer from vandalism more.
South facing slope is ideal
Fencing is expensive so plots ready fenced could be better
Any sheds or greenhouses left by previous occupants can be beneficial
Bindweed or mares tail are the worst weeds to eradicate

Anyway, there's a few thoughts to be going on with, I'm sure others will offer others.

Welcome to the vine Jands!

btw......don't procrastinate like I did and lose the plot I really wanted by offering to 'sleep on it' and get back to them! Others will probably be shown round this week also!

[zazen999]

If you can, go for the one that also feels right when you are on it.

Water is good, but with 2 water butts and being in the North, it's not as important as if you were in the South [we don't have any, just what comes from the shed roof].

[Alison]

A choice, what's that?

[NOG]

Seeif there are any fruit trees....

[Maximillian]

Haha. I dunno, whoever wanted a choice? My choice would be to have my plot filled and ready to eat in the first year (in time for my arrival on the first day of course). Oh and a gardener to weed for me. And it only to rain at night and beautiful sunshine through the day. And plants that all only need three square inches of space each but give abundant fruit and veg so I can plant more;-)

[geoff]

Check if you can have a shed. Don't be in a great hurry to buy lots of tools, put the word out to friends and colleagues. As time goes by, allotments tend to accumulate tools, and some of your new fellow plotholders might offer you a few spares

[bluemoon]

All the advice is right and sensible, but there's another factor and that's not so easily quantified, namely that there will be one which just feels like home and you know it's THE one. I wouldn't suggest you ignore all the advice if you get such a feeling, but I'd certainly take it into consideration. After all, if you feel comfortable there then you're more likely to spend a good deal of time on the plot and are therefore more likely to succeed.
Good Luck and let us know your decision.

[Snadger]

All the advice is right and sensible, but there's another factor and that's not so easily quantified, namely that there will be one which just feels like home and you know it's THE one. I wouldn't suggest you ignore all the advice if you get such a feeling, but I'd certainly take it into consideration. After all, if you feel comfortable there then you're more likely to spend a good deal of time on the plot and are therefore more likely to succeed.
Good Luck and let us know your decision.

Women have female intuition..............if your'e a male jands, may the force be with you!

[Alison]

My choice would be to have my plot filled and ready to eat in the first year (in time for my arrival on the first day of course). Oh and a gardener to weed for me.

No, wouldn't want that at all, love the feeling of satisfaction that I planned it all and did it all myself!

[Maximillian]

Very true. Nothing better than that warm feeling of doing it yerself!

[bluemoon]

Women have female intuition..............if your'e a male jands, may the force be with you!

True, we do. , but I was more meaning if you're the type who prefers to get on with it in peace you might prefer the one tucked away round the corner; if you're the talkative sort you might like a plot that's in the thick of everything that's going on etc, so there's more to consider than just the state of the weeds. A ready planted plot might seem like a great idea, but we actually took one of these on once many years ago and it was a nightmare, just trying to follow someone else's apparently irrational crop rotation was a complete pain. We moved to our present plot, mainly because it was bigger, but it was covered in bramble and bindweed, even so, it's much better than the old one because it's how we want it.

[Aileen35]

Our allotment was the only one available, no choice there then. Hadnt been cultivated in years and couldnt see the boundaries for 20 year old brambles. That was Easter, Its now oue pride and joy and No one can believe the transformation. the site is not the best, at the bottom of the hill, surrounded by shady trees, bindweed everywhere, but we did it. Secret to success - Remember, its a bit like eating an elephant, one mouthful at a time! Whatever plot you get, just enjoy it and dont overwhelm yourself. Rome wasnt built in a day, and an allotment is for life, not just for Easter!

[Aileen35]

Only just started to dig our final raised bed - 4 months in.

First pic, after we had stimmed and cleared the brambles (7 bonfires later!)
Secon Pic - June time, getting there

[jands]

Women have female intuition..............if your'e a male jands, may the force be with you!

Snadger, will let the other half have the female intuition, I knew taking her along was for a reason )

Well the big day is nearly here 10 o'clock tomorrow (tuesday) I am meeting the man in charge to see what is available. - Had a quick look this evening but you can bet those i think are vacant are actually taken but will see.

I will post some pics tomorrow evening.

Thanks for the advice......now the day is here I am thinking I am taking on more than I can manage.