Allotment layout - advice needed

[Reks]

Hello All,
After referring to many of the postings on bed size I have thought of 2 options for my new allotment plot recently rotovated. Would like some advice from the experienced ones on which one is a better option and also if there are other options or anything I am missing.

My lottie size is 12 ft by 63 ft and my options are:

1. Create beds 3 ft x 10 ft (I tried 4 ft wide on my last plot and it was a a bit difficult to get to the centre of the bed). Pathway (vertical and horizontal) 1.5 ft wide. Gives me 12 beds.
Use the remaining space 18.5 ft x 12 ft for soft fruit canes (raspberries, gooseberries and blueberry) + compost bin and maybe some smaller size beds based on how much ever space is left

2. create beds 12 ft x 3 ft, horizontal paths of 1.5 ft. This gives me around 13 beds in all, I might use the space for the last 2 beds to create different size beds to accomodate soft fruit and a compost bin.

Attempting crop rotation:
Spuds - salad potatoes, early main crop
brassicas - cabbage, cauli, turnips, pak choi
peas and beans - broad beans, peas, runner/ french/cluster/soy beans, sweetcorn, okra,
onions/garlic/shallots & root and stem veggies - carrots, raddish, beetroot, , tomatoes
Rotation not needed varieties - courgette, spinach, chard, lettuce, herbs

Plants that will not move:
strawberries
Rhubarb
Asparagus
flower bed
Raspberry(9), Gooseberry(3), Blackberry(3), blueberry(1) canes

Am I on the right track? Should I got for option 1 or 2 for beds based on your experience. Am I missing anything else that I need to plan extra space for? Any suggestions to this newbie's query are very welcome.

[Pies]

you might need space for a shed and compost bin,i sketched this you could easily add more beds

[Paulottie]

Hello Reks,

So that's about 80 sq yards then. less than a 1/3rd of a plot. Is that what passes for an allotment in Reading then?

Hold on.... BIL wants to use computer...will think on it.

[Reks]

Hello Reks,

So that's about 80 sq yards then. less than a 1/3rd of a plot. Is that what passes for an allotment in Reading then?

Hold on.... BIL wants to use computer...will think on it.

Hi - I think this is not standard size as overall this allotment is smaller. Last year I had a 5 plot land on another allotment and it was massive for me to handle. I rather have something small and easier to manage than a very large one, especially since this is my 2nd year with allotments and I am still learning

[Reks]

you might need space for a shed and compost bin,i sketched this you could easily add more beds

Thanks Pies, I can see you have shown the bed size as 10 ft b 3, Why did you set aside the 2 feet on the right side of the plot?

[Paulottie]

I suppose that is assuming you have to provide your own path. (Vertical)

Are these raised beds?

You need to consider aspect .... so things don't shade each other. (beds normally run north /south)

I however find the proposal a little regimented.

[Pies]

Thanks Pies, I can see you have shown the bed size as 10 ft b 3, Why did you set aside the 2 feet on the right side of the plot?

just for a path

[Pies]

I however find the proposal a little regimented.

I find it makes working the plot and organising easy

But each to their own

[Storming Norman]

60 sq metres is a plot in our neck of the woods - sad eh?

My experience is that some of your paths may need to be wider - you need to take bigger stuff like wheelbarrows across from time to time.

When everything is growing fast it can grow over the paths as well and leaves little space for you to tip toe.

Personally I would have a wider path up the middle, and tiddlers between beds, but it is all personal choice. Maybe don't edge until you are happy after a year or so.

Are you growing fruit?

[Paulottie]

I find it makes working the plot and organising easy

But each to their own

Indeed, we all must find a style to suit our personality and ability

An intensive raised bed method...it can work well and efficiently. I am not sure that what is being proposed here though.

Simply put...You can't eat paths.....and they require maintenance /edging/investment/ and in this case too much overall space for too many inconveniently narrow paths.

Consider what Norman says ...sound advice.

[Reks]

60 sq metres is a plot in our neck of the woods - sad eh?

My experience is that some of your paths may need to be wider - you need to take bigger stuff like wheelbarrows across from time to time.

When everything is growing fast it can grow over the paths as well and leaves little space for you to tip toe.

Personally I would have a wider path up the middle, and tiddlers between beds, but it is all personal choice. Maybe don't edge until you are happy after a year or so.

Are you growing fruit?

Planning to plant some soft fruit - raspberries, few gooseberries
so just to check my understanding of your recommendation I drew it up (see attached layout, I have shown the middle path as 2 feet and horizontal path as 1 ft, not sure if this is too little or not).
The beds will not be raised. I was thinking of planting the softfruit bushes either at the north or south on the plot. Above the south end are some largish trees and I could see on google maps that they do shadow the south end some time during the day. So I need to think of what plants I will plant at the south end.
Since this is my first full year growing on an allotment the thought was to go with some kind of structure so its easy to plan. Also since I have a clean sheet its the best time to make the plans too

[Reks]

Planning to plant some soft fruit - raspberries, few gooseberries
so just to check my understanding of your recommendation I drew it up (see attached layout, I have shown the middle path as 2 feet and horizontal path as 1 ft, not sure if this is too little or not).
The beds will not be raised. I was thinking of planting the softfruit bushes either at the north or south on the plot. Above the south end are some largish trees and I could see on google maps that they do shadow the south end some time during the day. So I need to think of what plants I will plant at the south end.
Since this is my first full year growing on an allotment the thought was to go with some kind of structure so its easy to plan. Also since I have a clean sheet its the best time to make the plans too

Added attachment now!

[Two_Sheds]

nope, can't open it

[HeyWayne]

Opens OK for me (might need to update your version of Adobe TS maybe?).

I'd have considered a pathway of 1ft as possibly too narrow. I think it's worth bearing in mind that you may well have plants that fill that bed - vertically I mean which would make walking down a 1ft gap quite tricky, especially if surrounded by prickly raspberries.

Personally I can't plan - I'm rubbish at it so gave up.

What works for one, may not for another. I hope yours does.

[Reks]

nope, can't open it

Attached .gif file ...does this work?