How far away is your allotment?

[Munch]

My plot is a 10 minute walk, with a pushchair, or 20 minute walk with little legs in little wellies!

[Mikey]

Well done Chris, have you got a shed on the plot or are you going to have to adapt your bike, to hang some tools off. There used to be a great old boy off penarth road that specialised in attaching brackets to things.

He made a number of fast release bike braces for car roofs, for british tour de france teams. He used to drill out my st steel sinks for me, never charged much, real tidy.

[chris]

Not seen the new one yet, my current one I do, but it's not got a door on it. I'll buy one if not though, and then buy some cheapo tools for it, as it's a bit of a pain making sure I always take mine with me (don't want to leave these on a plot, they cost me quite a bit)

Just trying to decide if I'll go with rows this time (current one had beds!)

[SarzWix]

Nice not to have any pressure to plant the new one up for this year though, eh? Means you can take your time getting it set up, while everything grows away on the other plot

[chris]

Yes, although the rules state I need to bring a responsible area into cultivation within 16 weeks. I've 20 courgette plants that I could bung in mind

[SarzWix]

That ought to do it then...

Don't forget fruit - if you sort out a permanent fruit area, that should count as 'a responsible area'?

[evvy2]

My allotment is 2 mins away on my bike which is ideal as if I only have an hour or so I can still nip up and do a bit. I think a long drive might put me off. The waiting list on our site is 3 years so 1 year is not too bad, it will fly by.

[chris]

That ought to do it then...

Don't forget fruit - if you sort out a permanent fruit area, that should count as 'a responsible area'?

Good point, I've 5 lidl fruit trees

Also a load of suckers from rasps too. What would I do without this place!

[chris]

Took it on today, it's closer than I thought, 3mins if you hit traffic lights!

It's only half a plot, but as it's so close, and in SO MUCH better conditions (no glass in every spade of soil) it's much better. Decided to keep my other plot on until dec/jan time, then hand it back as I've a lot planted in it now.

Looking forward to being able to take my little one down the plot with me now, as the only thing that she'll probably find hazardous is if the knotweed (which leaves are larger than my head!) tries to strangle her like on that weedkiller advert, rather than shards of glass, used condoms (yes, really), rusty knifes, metal spikes and thats only on the big I cleared..

There's scope for me to move to a full size one, or take the neighbouring one if one chap hands his plot over, who my half plot neighbours will move to, so that'd be good.

Have some rasps, couple of rhubarb crowns that have gone to seed (which, by the way look funky!), a row of parsnips that have gone to seed, so I'll collect them- erm a fruit tree, no idea what it is though, and a load of currants.

Here's it looking up from the south side, thankfully that tree is north of the plot!


The plot runs from the IBC tank on the right, to the path on the left.

Then, behind the parsnips, looking back down south:


The plot goes back behind the shed, then tapers off to a point meeting the left hand path, so a little over 5 perch, so turning around from the above pic, facing north:


There's probably another 20' along the left side of it, I think i'll put more fruit there.. Made a start earlier, so will take this one steady, going to go for beds the full width (12'), by 4' wide:

[SarzWix]

Excellent! It doesn't look bad at all And sounds very promising in terms of expansion

[singleseeder]

I had to wait for nearly 2 years for my plot on the nearest allotments. Well worth the wait as it is only 9 mins wheelbarrow walk from plot to front door. I've timed it so I can get back home in the morning for a shower before work.

Beats the gym any day.

[chris]

I had to wait for nearly 2 years for my plot on the nearest allotments. Well worth the wait as it is only 9 mins wheelbarrow walk from plot to front door. I've timed it so I can get back home in the morning for a shower before work.

Beats the gym any day.

I plan to do the same thing. I used to goto the gym before work, and it improved my 'outlook' on the day. Hoping this'll do the same thing. I'll be up through the night shortly anyway, so I'll be able to pop down to escape the nappy changing and crying

[singleseeder]

I am past that stage now Chris; I am at the stage of waking up early/not needing as much sleep (getting old). It does give you more hours in the day though. Apart from the odd Sun afternoon nap to catch up.

The 9 min walk will be great for when work is a long distant memory too.