I'm well and truly bitten!

[Mushaville]

If you need any more proof that I've been well and truly bitten by the gardening bug then I have it right here for you...I've just enquired about an allotment

And better still I got an email back nearly straight away saying they have a few vacant ones ready to go - just waiting to find out size and price!

I'm so excited i did a little happy dance

I do love a good project to work on!

[noviceveggrower]

Glad to hear you have got a response straight away. Keep us up to date with what happens and pics, as you know we love pics

[Bigmallly]

That's great news, fingers crossed for you.

[Nicos]

Congratulations!

piccies......

[Sarico]

A plot straight away? That's luck. If you so lucky you get a clear plot with greenhouse and shed . If you are crazy about gyo go for size and location. Don't go for a nice looking one. You can tackle a plot in few years and then if you choose a small one you wish you got a big one.

[Mushaville]

A plot straight away? That's luck. If you so lucky you get a clear plot with greenhouse and shed . If you are crazy about gyo go for size and location. Don't go for a nice looking one. You can tackle a plot in few years and then if you choose a small one you wish you got a big one.

That's exactly what I'm thinking - if I go for biggest plot I can I can make a project of clearing it if it's overgrown. I'm prepared to be faced with a jungle considering they said there are a few available - guessing that means there's not a long list so could have been left to weed up for a while!

My family (mum and fiancée - dad is used to my crazy ideas) aren't keen on the idea, they say it's too much work for me to take on but I'm thinking if I take it on as a LONG term project I can take as long as I want to clear it, tidy up, make look pretty and get perfect condition to grow :-)

[Nicos]

Do be aware that if you take it on as a long term project, the peeps running the site will expect you to at least make it 'tidy' within a reasonable time.
This may just mean covering it in cardboard or strimming the weeds until you are ready to start on the soil/planting.
Always good to ask

[Mushaville]

Do be aware that if you take it on as a long term project, the peeps running the site will expect you to at least make it 'tidy' within a reasonable time.
This may just mean covering it in cardboard or strimming the weeds until you are ready to start on the soil/planting.
Always good to ask

I did think that might be the case, making it presentable in a short amount of time should be an issue but getting it up to the standards/ideas i have in my head might lol

[Bigmallly]

You just need to check on the site rules regarding cultivation ratio, it may be something like 30%. At least then you know what you are faced with & will be able to plan it rather than fighting it.

[Sarico]

You just need to check on the site rules regarding cultivation ratio, it may be something like 30%. At least then you know what you are faced with & will be able to plan it rather than fighting it.

Exactly. You don't want put effort in it and then because of a rule you loose it. On mine there was a rule but because the plot was overgrown as long he could see some progress every time he does the inspection he would be fine.

[Jay-ell]

My site has a minimum cultivation level of 75 percent with cultivation classed as one or more of the following
- the plot is in readiness for growing

- well stocked with growing produce

- in the process of being prepared for the following crops or season

Paths under 3' wide for access to the plot and beds are counted as cultivated.

Having said that there's no pressure to get it all done as even a slow improvement is better than what it was.


So I think that cutting down all the weeds and covering the ground with cardboard would count as "in the process of. .." as long I showed progress.

A couple of years ago I dug out and weeded a half plot by hand and it took me months. The other half was chopped down and rotivated in a week but was covered in dock amd horsetail in no time. The plot holder was never seen again. Take your time and do it at your own speed and you'll get there.

[sparrow100]

You just need to check on the site rules regarding cultivation ratio, it may be something like 30%. At least then you know what you are faced with & will be able to plan it rather than fighting it.

We have targets of 50% in the first year and at least 75% thereafter, but to be honest if someone looks like they are having a really good go then there's a lot more flexibility. Most cultivation rates are there to show people what's expected so the site isn't left with chest high weeds seeding everywhere while 2 tiny beds are meticulously looked after...(I am thinking of a couple of plots on our site!)

Sounds like you have a really good idea of what you want - look forward to seeing pictures of your progress!

[Mushaville]

I popped down there this morning to have a look at what was spare and think I'm going to go for one of the smaller ones (the larger plots are 10 canes worth - thats what Roger, lovely chap, was telling me and they looked like too much work for a novice!)
Not sure on what it's exact size is but looking at what others have done it's be more than enough to feed a family.
The one I'm looking at costs £22 a year and isn't in bad condition, few weeds and overgrown grass - no mares tail that I can see thankfully. The last tenant only gave it up a few months ago.

It'd be a case of going in and going over with weed killer on certain bits and then cutting right down to the ground and see what I've got to work with.

We're not allowed fences as the foxes just knock them down but i can have a little mini one, there is a council water butt on there that a few plots share (ugly little thing but i can put a little palette structure around it to hide it) there are also some strawberries and a gooseberry doing quiet nicely on there.

Just got to convinve my OH now that its not a crazy idea...lol

[WendyC]

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!

[Sarico]

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.