Half plots versus full plots

[Alison]

They've started splitting ours in quarters now ! I got the last full sized one as it's part shaded so no-one else wanted it.
The turnover on our site is ridiculous - I just don't think some people appreciate how much hard work it is , they just think you turn up a couple of times and things just magically grow.

Blimey, didn't realise they're started doing that round here now, a quarter is ridiculously small!

[hamamelis]

Our site only rents half-plots now too. I think it's council policy, as the waiting lists are so long.

The size is actually OK for me, as I'm only really feeding myself, though I would like a bit more space to keep bees. Maybe next year...

[Kaiya]

Ours does full, halves and quarters. We have quarter (technically a 1/5 as the neighbour nicked 1m of disputed border), and last year I managed to grow on half of it - I found the first year quite hard - glad I wasn't being vetted for competence . This year I'll be growing on all of it, and I expect it'll eventually seem too small. If I had a half plot though, I don't think I'd grow any more types of veg as I already have a huge range of stuff planned, I'd just grow more of each and I'd have a shed and cold frame/greenhouse etc. and maybe some more fruit. A quarter plot works fine for me - it's only me working on the plot most of the time and I can only go there at weekends as I work away. Plus it's a really nice little plot - full sun, literally has the water tap on the corner of it, road access about 10m away for heavy things, yet I access it via a path by our house, lovely soil, minimal problems. So all in all I'm happy with our little 1/5 plot.

But I would love a shed, if only to collect rain water off.

[SarzWix]

... and Sarzwix. Newbies should be monitored but not treated like second class citizens. Most of the appallingly unkempt plots on our site are old boys who've had the plot for years, the worst offender is the Association Vice Chair. The newer plot holders (all female, by the way) are the busiest on the site

The reason I suggested new people being regularly inspected is, as mentioned by others, quite often new people have no idea how much work a plot takes and they don't do it. Obviously, I can only generalise about the site I'm on, but we've got one plot opposite mine that has had somebody on it for nearly 5 years now, and they still only have 2/3rds of the plot cultivated, another plot taken on last year was covered (badly) with black plastic and left, and another that's been occupied for nearly 2 years and is only half cultivated.
Anyway, I did back peddle and suggest that ALL plots ought to be inspected more often, and action taken more decisively where plots are being under-utilised, whether the tenants are new or well established. (I don't count 'messy' as 'under-utilised' )

[Newton]

Any full plots are split into 2if they become available. It's to do with waiting lists....currently 124 on our site. I got a half plot last year and some of it went a bit wild last summer. I now have it fully under control through lots of work (most enjoyable) but I can see the need for more land to accommodate all I want to grow.......it's already fully planned and my seed box overfloweth......

[horticultural_hobbit]

I couldn't manage a whole one, despite Ma wanting me have full plot. My 88sq metres is enough for me to experiment with; though you wouldn't think so with all the veg I want to grow. Whilst I'm not technically one of those fair weather allotmenteers, any bigger and I'm not sure how I would fit it in around work et cetra. I have the end plot, and there have been quite a few of us newbies taking up plots. It annoys me when folk take up a plot, do a bit and then aren't seen for dust; especially as there is a list. I was lucky, very lucky that I didn't have a long wait. So I'm very thankful, and try to get down there as regularly as I can and make it productive. I'm committed to making the most of it, and having fun with it too.

[Bigmallly]

I have a half plot and is ample for me. Have got Greenhouse, shed, fruit cage, 4 25'x4' raised beds for rotation, 1 25'x4' square foot raised bed and a 25'x2'6" strawberry raised bed. How much food can 1 person eat?...........Actually I do it more as a hobby than anything else. Most of the crops will be given away to family & friends.

[binley100]

I started with a half plot then moved to a full plot but our plots are bigger than most ........we have split some of the full plots but not many . We are lucky in that there is a large area of old allotments that we are bringing back into use which will give about another 35 half plots .

[Aberdeenplotter]

Bins, our half plots are officially 150 squ metres yet mine are both around 90. Still charged the whole half plot rent though

[Snadger]

I have two plots and I'm struggling to find room for all the plants I've grown. Maybe I'm not very efficient with my garden space? A quarter of my plots are for the chooks and the rest are split up into 4 foot beds and 2 foot pathways. I don't grow enough veg to feed my family and chooks.
If I only had a half plot I would be bored out of my tree!
I had one plot at one time and sat by my shed watching for a weed to appear to give me something to fill my time.
I know some people may say I am lucky to have these plots, but they were like a wilderness when I got them, no one wanted them and there was no waiting list.

The councils I would imagine will love the idea of half plots to decrease the waiting list................................this means they won't need to supply more plot areas that are needed and not get grief about waiting lists!

[singleseeder]

It is interesting to hear differing views from everyone. Although everyone agrees that it is important to get as many people growing food as possible.

The newbie / half plot policy on my site is fair, for all the reasons discussed, it just appears that when plots becomes vacant, more are divided in half than not. I have been on the full plot list for 6 months or so and have already seen a few newly available plots divided in half this year. I must check on where I am on the list.

Newbies and established plot holders are inspected regularly, so anyone struggling can be identified quickly; one person didn't have their contract renewed because they had a plot elsewhere in the city. We also have inspections by the Freemen of the City who own the land we are on.

Snadger, my lottie is 9 mins wheelbarrow walk from my garage door to my plot and looking to the future this is ideal for me. I get there before work in the morning and can be on the plot by 5.20pm, or earlier with flexi. My conundrum is how much effort do I put into the half plot, while waiting for a full one? I am already looking at what I have sown and even using the veggie area in my garden, I know I won't have space.

There isn't an easy solution to the number of people on the waiting list, but on the positive side I think that there is a relatively quick turnover due to those who like the idea of a lottie but not the work involved. These people mustn't be allowed to hang on the the lottie for too long in those circumstances. I believe some sites only give 3 or 6mth contracts to begin with.

I am so pleased that I only had to wait for 2yrs for my half plot, but I really have itchy fingers to get started on the 'grown up' size.

[Speed Gardener]

We have a couple of half plots on our site, these were originally whole plots but one was split when the old boy asked to because he couldn't keep the whole plot cultivated, and the other was a woman who has two plots but had left one to get overgrown. The guy from the council would rather they weren't split because half a plot isn't really enough to do anything serious on, but with waiting lists as they are, they have to be seen to do something. Shame they haven't got rid of the three or four plots that haven't had anything done on them for a couple of years, they seem a bit reticent when it comes to evicting people.
I was lucky in that when I applied 10 or so years ago, there were spare plots everywhere so I've now got three plots, all next to each other. I treat it as one large plot now, only one shed, greenhouse etc. but loads of fruit which I wouldn't have done if I only had one or even half a plot. Come to think of it, a half plot wouldn't keep me busy at all!

[binley100]

Bins, our half plots are officially 150 squ metres yet mine are both around 90. Still charged the whole half plot rent though

flamin'eck AP .....our half plots are 10 rods or 252 sq metres .........here's hoping for some serious ass kicking in court

[daleclarke]

I have a ½ plot and it's all I need, Greenhouse, shed coming and two fruit beds with the rest for Potatoes & the rest is ample, though I must admit to having an ½ sized plot in my back garden totally for Salad veg and onions (White Rot at Allotments) these are done at home closer to the kitchen for quick salads.

My shared Allotmenteer shares with his Dad and Brother in Law and they have used every spare bit and very happy. The gentleman next door to me took the whole plot and it's been a very hard toil for him and ½ the plot is still not being used.

Our biggest problem is the stealing of crops, someone pinched an Apple tree from mine last week! :-(

[VirginVegGrower]

flamin'eck AP .....our half plots are 10 rods or 252 sq metres .........here's hoping for some serious ass kicking in court

Mine is 100 sq m, but the parish council very cleverly put £xx per year for half or any other size plot (not full size) - canny huh?!