I'm well and truly bitten!

[Mushaville]

Sounds promising. Do you mean 10 rods? That's about 250 square metres. I have 5 rods and it's more than enough for me!

Haha yes 10 rods! Thats what he said lol

The one i like is about 160 sq meters and its a bit of a fat rectangle shape - drawing up an idea of a plan at the mo :-)

[Mushaville]

If it's like you say few weed and overgrown grass why bother with weed killer? That's maybe it's the only crazy idea lol.

I saw a few weeds in the way of it's not a jungle but it's still pretty messy - I guess I can get more of an idea when I've paid my monies and go and have a proper look and measure up :-)

[ancee]

Hopefully, you'll be smitten as well as bitten!

[Mushaville]

Been having a quick play around on Excel to make a plan - each square is equal to 0.5 sq mt



Orange bit at back would be a shed, blue bit next to that would be a small pond to get some froggies to come and live in, blue bit at front is communal water butt.

In terms of rotation the four labeled larger beds would rotate clockwise each year.

What do people think? Be as honest as you can be because I have no idea what I'm doing whatso ever - this is just from a bit of googling and learning yesterday

[Nicos]

What's the scale?
1 square =1ft?

A 5 feet is a long way to stretch to the centre for weeding unless you are particularly tall!
4ft is about the max for most peeps ( ie a 2ft reach)...and 2 feet is good between beds to be able to walk- and just about kneel, but if you are going to be using a wheelbarrow, you'll need a 3 ft path, certainly up the middle.
Remember that some plants will overhang the edges and reduce the path widths

[Mushaville]

What's the scale?
1 square =1ft?

A 5 feet is a long way to stretch to the centre for weeding unless you are particularly tall!
4ft is about the max for most peeps ( ie a 2ft reach)...and 2 feet is good between beds to be able to walk- and just about kneel, but if you are going to be using a wheelbarrow, you'll need a 3 ft path, certainly up the middle.
Remember that some plants will overhang the edges and reduce the path widths

Each square is equal to 0.5 meter :-)

[Jay-ell]

So the beds are 5 squares wide with each square 0.5m - 2.5m is just over 8 foot. It's going to be a major stretch to weed/sow the centre of the beds - unless you're Mr Tickle.

I'm building my beds at the moment and have gone for 1.2m wide beds with 60cm paths. I'm 5'10" and can reach into the centre comfortably but wouldn't want to try and stretch any more than that When the plants are growing and in the way.

60 cm between the beds is a comfy size for me to squat and kneel in. It's also the width of the flag stones I'm using for some of the paths. I have used 45cm paths before but they are far too tight. I have a three foot path going along the side of the plot which allows for me to cart the wheelbarrow up and down.

[sparrow100]

I have 45cm paths, which are all fine and dandy till as Jay-ell says, stuff spills over. I sat on 3 broad bean stalks while planting out my sweetcorn today...last year I could only walk down one side of my spud bed...etc.

On the other half plot I am not having any paths other than a main one down the centre. The plot will get dug over each year and I'll use boards to tread between crops. Much less faff.

[Sarico]

Been having a quick play around on Excel to make a plan......

you know I never thought that. I've downloaded professional software and spent day to understand the basic when I could use excel ahahaha. that what I'm gonna dothis winter. Redesign my new plot making each square 1 foot. Silly me

[Sharpy]

"I'm well and truly bitten!"

As was i. Took on half a plot like yourself last May, but soon realised it was going to be to small for my grand designs. Luckily the other half of the plot was not being used and became vacant in October, although i had been nicking a few inches here and there any way(Don`t tell any one...shsshh). My site now contains 16 raised beds, 4 open ground sections a mini fruit orchard, 2 areas of wild flower, 2 ponds, 2 sheds, 1 greenhouse and a toilet plus an area for compost bins and leaf mould mound.

You can out grow yourself very quickly.

Like others have said make your beds narrower if you can, and if you are making any of them raised find a good supply of pallets. So much cheaper then buying timber. Try and get the long ones although they are a pain carting about they pretty much fall apart with a little tap here and there, plus the supports on them make good stakes for the corners. My paths are all .5m wide which is the width of my wheelbarrow.

Any way good luck

[Mushaville]

Thanks for all the advice so far! After talking to my Dad he's suggested clearing the plot as much as I can and then getting exact measurements of the space I'll have to work with so I can plan appropriately.
I've still got to wait for the council to sort all the paperwork out and wait until pay day to be able to pay for it.
I'm almost hoping that I get a bit of time off at the end of June when the redundancy comes before I get a new job so that I can get a good start on things!

[Jay-ell]

As it's your first season you don't need to need to do any thing set in stone - or even wood, plastic or recycled palets. The layout will evolve as you work the plot so you don't want to do anything now that you can't change next year (or even next week). Once you have a bit of dirt under your nails you'll be able to decide if you want to have separate fixed beds or go with a big bed system (you don't have to split it all into small beds).

My preference is for smaller permanent beds but that doesn't suit everyone so fiddle around and find out what works for you.

Most of all have fun and enjoy it.

[Mushaville]

Ok bit of an update, after chatting at a family party last night about it my Dad and uncle decided to pop down to the plot with me today and take a look to see what they thought (they both know a handy amount about gardening/veg)

It's going to need a lot of digging up and over as there is old plants in there that have gone to seed - they keep telling me how much work it will be but it's something I'm so excited about that I don't mind some hard work.

The main jobs would be weeding and digging over and then neatening up - as I'm due to get made redundant in the next 6 weeks and I'm not sure what hours I would be doing in a new job (once I get one!) it may be worth waiting a few weeks before taking the spot for definite - I can put down a holding deposit though hopefully.

My thinking is that if I don't have a job to go in to straight away I don't want to be sitting on my bum bored for weeks and I'd rather be out in the fresh air doing something to keep me focused and getting some exercise sooo if I don't have a job lined up come mid June I will start work on the plot.

I hate being in limbo at the moment, its so frustrating and scary because if I don't get a new job we are well and truly in the poo - the idea of having something like an allotment to channel some energy and focus into would be the perfect thing to keep me from stressing as much

[Mushaville]

That was a bit of a rambling rant - sorry guys!

[Jay-ell]

I know how it feels to be taking on an allotment when you have uncertain hours. I took on an allotment nearly two months ago and with my job I can sometimes be working several days at a time and even on my days off I often end up working.


I find that even if I don't get much done every day at the allotment helps me destress after work and although it's a lot of work (if your dad doesn't like the state of yours he should have seen mine) I'm getting through it. Even if you just cover most of it with cardboard to blackout the weeds an work on a bit at a time a couple of hours a week, by the time you take the cardboard off the next bit th weeds are weakened. If you can get compost cheap/free on the site from your council you could just pile that over a thick layer of cardboard and plant into that. If not you just work at your own Pace with what time you can spend there.


If you find yourself between jobs then it can be a great way to maintain your sanity and also to have breaks from the family. Before this job I was unemployed for a year and my previous allotment was alot better than watching Jeremy Kyle or Judge Judy every day.