How much time does an allotment need?

[Olorin2001]

For some time on our site there has been a discusion about the time it takes to cultivate a plot. This is about the time actually spent gardening, the social aspect is not included. My opinion is - there are two types of allotmenteers, those who make excuses for being on their plots, and those who make excuses for not being there.

For a ten rod plot I have been saying that on average an hour a day is the minimum needed to keep on top of things and have stuff to harvest. This includes selecting seeds from catalogues, sowing, planting out, weeding through to harvesting. Obviously some crops are more time demanding than other, so we are talking in general terms only. And if you take on a neglected plot we are not talking about the hours of work to get it into some sort of order order.

[Nicos]

I seem to recall we had this conversation a few years ago - but , sorry,I can't find the link.

If I recall we averaged about 7hrs a week per full allotment during the spring/summer/autumn period. As there were 2 of us we could easily keep on top of it for half a day a week ( or a couple of evenings after work)- and that included a quick mow of the paths once a fortnight.

My mind has utterly blanked out the time taken to convert a neglected plot...but maybe that's a good thing????...what I do recall is the thrill of having achieved it though!!!
...and yes- over the years we've pulled back to life 4 full sized allotments! ( so it can't be that horrendous!)

[alldigging]

My opinion is - there are two types of allotmenteers, those who make excuses for being on their plots, and those who make excuses for not being there..

There are people who would live on their plot if they were allowed.


I think I read somewhere 15 hours a week ...

There are reasons for not being able to get to your plot: holiday, broken bones, death.

But if your normal everyday living stops you from coming at least once a week then it's probably not worth having an allotment.

[Plot10]

I find that frequency is almost more important than time spent. If I manage a couple of 1/2 hours at lunchtimes during the week to do a bit of weeding/watering it helps to keep on top of things if I can't get up at a weekend. On the other hand, even spending 8 - 10 hours before I go on holiday makes very little difference to the state of the plot when I come back, even if it's only after a week.

[WendyC]

I recently wrote a leaflet for newcomers on our allotment site. Our plots are 2.5 rods and we don't have sheds. I estimated, and the committee agreed, that 5 hours a week was about average, once up and running. I have just asked for a second plot but I'm not anticipating it taking double the time.

[alldigging]

I recently wrote a leaflet for newcomers on our allotment site.

Any chance of a look?

[WendyC]

Have sent you pm.

[VirginVegGrower]

Five hours today, just to plant, hoe weed, shear mulches and feed/water.

[Olorin2001]

When I said some make excuses - I wasn't talking about accidents, holidays or passing over to that garden in the sky, or the other one that's hotter and some would say more fun because all their friends are there. Our site has a closed Facebook group page, so if anyone has problems, a short note gets your plants watered, paths mown etc.
We have one or two who barely cultivate, year after year they make excuses, how many times have I heard them say - this year I'm going to sort my plot out. Why they make excuses to me I don't know, I'm not the site rep, if the council is happy for them to pay the rent and do as little as possible who am I to pass judgement, think their wasting their money though.
We have a three year waiting list and it is the new people who see plots not being used to even 25% of their potential, three quarter knee high in weeds and they question why they had to wait three years, and why the council doesn't make noncultivator give up.

[Feral007]

Maybe it's a bit of a status thing in some people's heads? They have an allotment so they must be a gardener, and have a hobby/interest, even if they don't actually do it.
I can sympathise with people who run into times when they just can't seem to get out from under and things get out of hand sometimes. But then again, I'm more likely to be out digging and spreading mulch than vacuuming, which is why you're less likely to be invited inside the house Working outside cheers me up, so I do it more.

It's totally understandable with such a long waiting list why people would get a bit ticked over having to wait so long, and I imagine, getting a long term neglected plot to start off with to boot.

[~kirsty~]

I spend about 10 hours a week now he weather is nicer and the days longer.... I'm still turning a bramble infested plot (not ever used as an allotment!) into something usable though. I think once established it can be done in less time. I do the majority of all the work myself as well, with very little help. Now its warmer and I can see stuff growing it makes it seem worthwhile... all those weekends since February in the frost.. so glad I got stuck in then though!!

[Two_Sheds]

half a day a week

That's what I was down to last week, having caught myself up on all the planting & weeding. It's just a hit-and-run time for me now, as the nasty atmosphere up the site doesn't encourage me to linger, plus I'm really busy with Master Gardenering too.

However, now it's got properly warm, the weeds are growing like mad and old crops are going to seed, so I do have to do a couple of full days to get back on top of it.

Mulching with chopped up weeds & green manures has been a major boost, vastly reducing the time I spend weeding and composting.

[jonohanson]

I try to spend around 10 hrs a week on the plot at this time of the year, I will also throw in a few extra days for large weeding tasks or large projects (just built 8 2.4*1m beds and built a load of wood chipping paths).

[buzzingtalk]

How long is a bit of string lol?

Despite however many days/hours I put in its never enough. I work shifts in care and some weeks just can't get down to the plot...but then this week, icando full day thurs and fri and half day sun between shifts. I couldn't get down last week though so this week will be catch up work mainly. Next week I'm only working 3 days so lots of time on the plot to get ahead.

[mesteve]

Hi all I'm on my new plot before work (around 6) and after work I live it my work is getting in the way