Half plots versus full plots

[poppysocks]

I was recently offered a half plot locally and was advised that they only offer half plots now due to the waiting lists. I was told I could go back on the waiting list for another half plot on the same site. Ideally, I wanted a full plot as I have currently converted nearly all of my back garden over to growing veg and would like to convert it back to garden in a year or 2. A half plot is fine at present while I am using my garden but wouldn't be enough on its own.

Where plots are concerned, I think people should be given a choice between full or half and I agree that all plots should be monitored not just the newbies. There appear to be some on my site where people have full plots but are only using half but others use every inch!

I have been lucky with my half as it opens out at the bottom is does seem somewhat bigger than some of the other halves. However, to say it was overgrown would be an understatement and the amount of rubbish on it is amazing ranging from rusted steel, dug in plastic, tangled netting, tangled wire and rotten wood, I may need a skip to dispose of it all! Never mind, I can see the potential eventually!

[binley100]

I was only trying to say that if a site halved all of its plots then all of their plots were now fullsized
cos thats the only size they have ......
yup our plots are big but we do have some half sized my first one was and Iran out of room for what I wanted to grow but moved to one which had been left to become a field . The new plots that we're bringing back into use are (to us) a half plot size and if people can't cope with a full plot they are given the option to move to a smaller or if it is feasible to split and share with someone.

[smallfrog]

I had a shared full plot with a friend 1/2 and 1/2 would not recomend this from a friendship point of view it never goes well. Although she hit the high road to another 1/2 plot after a year to improve plot relations. So i got the full plot then again at the A|GM her plot was available and with no waiting list i though what the heck i'll have that for me pumpkin (high hopes this year). Now i've got 1 and 1/2.
I'm so pleased i've grow with my plots 1/2 a plot is enough for a newbie to test the water and it gives you time to get it ship shape rather than taking on too much too soon. but not nearly enough room to grow everything you want to grow.
By the by she's on another site now nearer home and with water.........hummmmmmm evil laugh

[areia]

I do think size matters my first not nearly half plot was 25 x 31 ft barren patch, the new plot i got is 25 x 45 but it has every thing on it ive yet to measure the actual growing space ( as i feel its actually less than the 'barren patch' ) as it has 2 ft paths all over the place, which next yr i plan to lose/narrow a few, for which my cousin said how many veg do you actually want to grow,,,,, ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm lots plus i want to rotate crops properly,

I personally would like a bigger a plot but for now im just going to be greatful that managed to nab a plot with minimal work required

[kiwiman]

Just been allocated a quarter plot, no room for sheds or any permanent bushes, and that was after a 3 year wait. You are a lucky b***r in my eyes. Good luck with it.

[FyldeFloss]

I got my plot in January this year, after waiting a year. It's technically 3/5 of a full plot, 150 sq metres, but more than big enough for me and there's only 2 of us to feed.

Our council allotments have just gone self-managed by our Fed, so I guess the policy may shift to offering part / half plots where available to get them used rather than negelcted.

[Andromeda]

The site my allotment is on is made up of full sized plots, a few people 'plot share' but if one person left the other would have to either take on the full plot or leave. Fortunately we don't have huge waiting lists where I am so carving up plots hasn't been considered.

[dominic10]

On 7th April we were offered half a plot - very neglected and strewn with all kinds of rubbish and 3 compost heaps. It is the general thing on our site to halve the plots because of the long waiting list. It is 5 rods and we have cleared about 95% now, planted spuds, runner beans and peas. Up til now I have shared one third of half a plot and managed to grow quite a lot of veg in that space. Looking forward to doing more on the half plot. I have lots of things growing at home in pots, trays, & loo rolls including stuff I haven't grown before such as kale and PSB. I grow tomatoes at home and also salad leaves, herbs, etc. I also have a strawberry bed but am thinking of having this now on our allotment. I think half a plot will be sufficient as there are only two of us. I don't plan to have a greenhouse there or a shed as we live quite close but not that close. Today the temperatures have been 100F and watering and managing the heat in a greenhouse would be a problem for me. I have a couple of mini greenhouses at home. Being on the allotment site and seeing neglected plots has been quite frustrating at times while were were on the waiting list for our own plot - especially the people who have had 3 or 4 plots and grew very little except for weeds and grass. But worth the wait I think.