Best time to take on an allotment?

[butternutsquash-boy]

Hi everyone,

I was just hoping for a bit of advice please. Having attempted to grow veg in pots in the back yard least year with limited success, have finally decided to take the plunge and try and get an allotment. However, I have been reading recently that the best time to take one on is Autumn/Winter!

However, I may have the chance of getting one this spring (next few weeks hopefullY) - is this wise? I'm really wondering if I will be able to get anything growing ready for this summer/autumn, or if I shall simply be left to spend 9 months or so preparing the site for next year?

Apologies if this is a very basic question, but kind of new to all this! - any advice would be appreciated please!

Many thanks,

BNSB

[pigletwillie]

Winter possibly is he best time but only because you get a respite from growing weeds. Conversely if you get one now at least you can grow crops whilst hacking the weeds back and at least you will see what weeds you have to deal with.

Its always more satisfying if your hard work is rewarded by harvesting something so now is a good a time as any in reallity.

[Fezinio]

hi BNSB

Welcome to the mad house.

its a good question so don't worry.

Personally my view is if you can got a Lotty then take it. People are crying out for them.

You might not be able to grow what you need this year but as far as I'm concerned its a marathon not a sprint.

Good luck

Fez

[nick the grief]

I'd take it now -in 9months time there may not be one!!! Piglet is right that in an ideal world you'd get it in october/november whilst you can still do something but we don;t live in an ideal world.

If you can get it in the next month or so you can still plant spuds under black plastic they will help clear the ground for you as you have to dig them out. And if you can clear a bit of land you willbe able to get some Courgettes & salads in.

Go for it the best time is now

Welcome to the vine BTW

[buttercup]

hello! and welcome!
i only got my allotment not so long ago!
there is so much work to do weeding ect that i have bearly started!
in a couple of weeks ill have time to go down and have a good go at it all but i may end up planting a little late or a bit unorganised but i recon do little bits at a time and youll get there eventualy!
definately take it now! youll have longer days to spend down there and im sure taking on an allotment in winter in the wind in the rain must be a little disheartning!
go for it now and in the mean time read up on things your unsure of and try and make a plan of what veg youll want to grow and when so when you do get the plot you be able to work through it!
have fun, and dont worry about askin questions, im a complete novice and and people on here have been so nice and happy to share there knowledge!
good luck
cheers buttercup

[Nicos]

Hello there bns-boy!!
Welcome to the Vine!
I agree with the others - if you are offered one now, and it suits your requirements- then grab it!
You'll not be able to sort it out in one year anyway, unless you have help or lots of time on your hands ( or it's been looked after well until last Autumn)
Aim to clear a small area, and you'll be fine- most of us are slowly emerging from winter hibernation and only just starting to sow a few seeds.
Really pleased you've decided to take the step...you're life will be much richer for it
( you could just stick some spuds in the soil in 3-4 wks without digging it as a start)

[Earthbabe]

Hi bns-boy and welcome. There are no silly or basic questions here. I'd agree with all the advice here. We got our first lottie at the end of October, and the second in April. All in all as PW says the sutumn/winter gives you time to concentrate on getting the soil sorted and planning but as ntg says if you get it this time of year you have the benefit of being able to get some crops in and harvested.

As Fezinio points out getting your hands on a lottie is a success story in inself these days so go for it. You can always cover some areas over with cardboard/carpet/plastic etc to keep some of the weeds in abeyance.

[phil the shed]

hi bnsb.

got my first lottie last feb 06.....
basic plan was to look it over get info from neighbours and then make my plan.
small sections in manageable pieces.
what i prepared the last time i planted the next time
it seemed that by the end of may i had turned over 250sq yds without thinking about it.
remember this is for gain and pleasure and not penance and torture

i got hooked last year and have picked up a second vacant plot last november my friends say i'm mad but also thank you when a little freebie box is left on the doorstep

bnsb enjoy it
but do it now

phil the shed.

[Snadger]

Piglet is right that in an ideal world you'd get it in october/november whilst you can still do something but we don;t live in an ideal world.

Why not, says he?

If you would like to put your allotment Secretaries head on for a mo Nick, why, if the committee are trying to do the best they can for the plot holders, don't they change the leasing month to start October or November. Surely it would be no skin off there noses when the lease year started and it would give new plot holders a chance to ready there plots for the next season?

I'm not having a go here Nick, just wondered if the subject had ever been broached at your allotment society meetings and your own personal feelings on the subject?

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger we don't wait until the end of the leasing year. If a plot holder gives up their plot it is immediately re let to a new member. Why wait for the year end??

[Hazel at the Hill]

Our 'year end' is October, but it takes time for the changes to have shaken down and the actual offering and allocating of plots - we had our names down in the summer and didn't hear until mid Nov that we had our half plot (hurrah!).

This seems perfect for the new plotee to get the winter digging underway - only disadvantage to us was that we inherited quite a 'clean' plot so I was ready to sow about 2nd week in Jan and have been kicking my heels ever since!

[Hazel at the Hill]

....the only disadvantage to us was that we inherited quite a 'clean' plot so I was ready to sow about 2nd week in Jan and have been kicking my heels ever since!

I'm so sorry JG (and all the other with dock/couch/bramble/hideous clay/mare's tail etc problems) I didn't mean to rub it in, that's just the way it's been for us!

[Snadger]

Snadger we don't wait until the end of the leasing year. If a plot holder gives up their plot it is immediately re let to a new member. Why wait for the year end??

Very admirable LJ, but just out of interest, how do you know they have given it up if they have'nt told you so, and when are the plot holders subs due each year, ie what is the leasing period?

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger when there are non cultivated plots the plotholders get a letter from me. A nice, polite letter and if a month later there has been no work done to the plot then a termination letter is sent. Obviously if people are ill or are having problems of one sort or another then I don't terminate their lease. Newcomers are given a probationary period. We don't have plots hanging around for months on end, untouched, waiting for the year end which is January.

[butternutsquash-boy]

Thats great - thanks for the advice and the warm welcome - looking forward to getting stuck into it all if can get the 'lotty!

really appreciate that you took time to reply - sure I will have many more questions as I get stuck into all!!!

Best wishes

bns-boy