Allotment offer - advice appreciated

[StephenH]

At last, after just over three years waiting, I've been offered a council allotment, but the allotment in question is entirely covered with a polytunnel, apparantly. I remember, on a visit to the site a year or so ago, seeing it, and I recall that it looked a pretty permanent structure. (As coincidence would have it, I'm getting an advert for polytunnels alongside the box as I type this!) The email offering the allotment said that if I didn't want the tunnel, I could turn the offer down and wait for another allotment, which might not be too long, since I am now presumably at the head of the queue on that site. However, I was wondering whether it might be worth accepting after all: could I grow the full range of fruit and veg, including the fully hardy ones such as brassicas, successfully? It'd certainly make tomato growing easier, and I love toms and am trying to specialise in them to some extent, so there is that to be said for it. What would other grapes do?

[Glutton4...]

Go for it - Seeeemples!

If you don't like it after a year or so, swap with someone, or go maybe you could go halves with another plot-holder. Good luck!

[Munch]

I would suggest to go for it too, I would like a polytunnel, maybe not covering my whole plot but even so!

Maybe you could also ask if and when a half plot or even a 2nd comes up that maybe you could take that in addition

Enjoy

[StephenH]

Thanks - I think I will. After all, polytunnels aren't cheap if you buy your own, and I'm getting one for free!

[rustylady]

That must be one heck of a polytunnel!

[taff]

I'd jump at it. The only thing with polytunnels is watering so investigate whats already in place, if there's nothing, make a plan

[StephenH]

That must be one heck of a polytunnel!

I should perhaps explain that the standard Dacorum Borough Council allotment is a half-plot, not a full one, so it may not be quite as huge as you think!

[Dead Dogs]

Even a half allotie size poly is impressive.

I agree with Taff about watering. Here in caithness it rains a lot, not as much as on the west cost thankfully, but the poly still benefits from a regular watering.

Only adivice I can add is to ventilate it as well as you can. Even my poly get hot on a sunny day and the humidity sky rookets.

[StephenH]

Well, it is pretty big, but there is a border at the front and down both sides which is probably big enough to grow stuff that's best grown in the open.
Anyway, I've accepted the offer, and await the bumf in the post.

[Aberdeenplotter]

The bigger the polytunnel, the harder it is to keep it cool in the summer months especially in the middle so bear that in mind. If it doesn't already have doors at both ends, do a bit of joinery. Other than that and the obvious problems with water, - I was carrying 30 gallons per day to my plot where I have a 25ft x 10ft tunnel before water was installed on the site - you will be able to grow bigger and better stuff for a much longer season so it should be hugely beneficial. Enjoy

[StephenH]

Thanks, I will. It's got a door at one end, I don't know about the other: so far, I've only seen it by peering over the top of the site gate, which was locked at the time. I trust there's a tap on the site, in which case, I'll haul my hose over there and leave it there permanently. (I'll have to get another one for the garden.)

[StephenH]

I got the paperwork today, and have sent back the formal agreement, signed and witnessed. I now know the combination for the gate lock, so I'll go there tomorrow morning, and have a look round, and take some paper and a pen to make some rough sketches. the sketch-map provided has North indicated, which is useful, so I don't need to take a compass. I'll take a couple of books, too - the Andi Clevely allotment one, and the polytunnel one.

[VirginVegGrower]

The bigger the polytunnel, the harder it is to keep it cool in the summer months especially in the middle so bear that in mind. If it doesn't already have doors at both ends, do a bit of joinery. Other than that and the obvious problems with water, - I was carrying 30 gallons per day to my plot where I have a 25ft x 10ft tunnel before water was installed on the site - you will be able to grow bigger and better stuff for a much longer season so it should be hugely beneficial. Enjoy

Size matters AP - that's a long walk with a watering can

[Aberdeenplotter]

Size matters AP - that's a long walk with a watering can

I used the 18 ltr water dispensing bottles used in offices etc and took them from the car to my plot using an old kids push chair that some scallie dumped in the plot tip. Allotments really are the last resting place for all sorts of things. If it hadn't been for that, I'm sure my arms would have stretched to Orang Utan proportions

[StephenH]

Turns out I don't know the combination for the lock after all: there was a four-figure number on the plan provided which I assumed was it, but it wasn't. Presumably, I get sent the combination after they've received the signed and witnessed formal agreement, which I've just posted. However, I had another peer over the gate, and the area in the open in front of the polytunnel is larger than I realised: it's rather overgrown, so not easy to tell where the plot ends and the path in front of it begins. Therefore, there should be plenty of room for growing stuff that's best in the open, or at any rate doesn't need to be in the tunnel, such as onions or brassicas.
I'll take and post some photos when I finally get access - I want to take a series showing it as it is now - somewhat neglected and overgrown - and work in progress until I've got it how I want it.

Incidentally, when I tried to come on here earlier today, I could only get the opening post on any thread, not the replies. Did anyone else notice the same problem?