Opinion on your idea of an allotment please

[Nigelsmith]

Hi guys has you may be aware by my other posts I'm very new to growing vegetables and this being our first allotment I have read loads have also spoken to other plot holders on forums and in person and gained loads of great advice and opinions

So far on our allotment we have erected a shed a greenhouse and five raised beds and planted some fruit bushes (Kindly given by another plot holder) and have also laid a small turfed lawn that is doing great and overall we are really pleased with what we have done so far (Big pat on the back) I have learned to relax more and not expect everything on the allotment side to work has fast like work social life etc and really enjoyed my last read "The half an hour allotment" was a great read with loads of good advise and ideas therefore at the moment I feel everything is going fine allotment wise BUT.....always a but lol yesterday the site manger said to me (I hope your not having loads of raised beds) I asked why and she said (Because thats not the way to run a plot or an allotment and I should see Arthurs plot he's been doing it for 60 years and thats how a plot should be done !!!

I thought the whole idea for an allotment is to do what you like in respect of ideas and plans and hopefully grow some fruit and veg along the way ?? my idea is infact lots of raised beds (Not 100% of the plot though) with paths between the lawn and lots of flowers a kind of ornamental garden.

And a the rest of the plot about a third be for potatoes sweetcorn beetroot etc etc the bigger veggies that are clearly to big for raised beds.

Anyway should I ignore her comments and just take them with a bag of salt or am I indeed doing everything wrong ??

Your opinions required and respected

Cheers Nigel

[zazen999]

I've posted on this before on here in detail - and am just about to go up to bed but basically, if her gripe is paths then when you grow in traditional style, you leave a path inbetween each row so you end up having more paths each year even though none are actually permanent; and then you have to dig where you have been walking. Also, you can plant crops closer together so getting more crop in beds than in rows. So you get more crops and save your back. And flowers bring the bees in so more pollination. What's not to like.

It is none of her business whether you garden in raised beds or not - it's your plot and as long as you are growing mainly to eat and not only using half the plot for food overall she should keep her nose out.

[Fruit&2veg]

Agree with all the above, this is your plot, not Arthurs or the site managers! so long as you dont breach any site rule ie some agreements specify that a set percentage of the plot must be cultivated, so how big is your lawn area for example. That to one side, congratulations on making such swift progress, and glad to hear your enjoying YOUR new plot!

[zazen999]

Hang on, I have something that shows just how space is better utilised in beds rather than rows like Arthur. Not that I have anything against traditional lotties, but the space works better in beds...

It's from The Essential Guide to Back Garden Self-Sufficiency.

[endymion]

BUT.....yesterday the site manger said to me (I hope your not having loads of raised beds) I asked why and she said (Because thats not the way to run a plot or an allotment and I should see Arthurs plot he's been doing it for 60 years and thats how a plot should be done !!!

If yuo've been asking the site manager for advice they'll probably think you always want advice, and will also do what they suggest. So maybe you need to tell them, very politely, that you're happy with what you're doing - and, maybe, that your raised beds are an easy way of organising your crop rotation.

Why not have a look around the rest of the allotment site and see what others are doing. I wouldn't mind betting there are a fair number of allotments with raised beds.

[SarrissUK]

Carry on as you are Nigel I dont have raised beds because I knew I wouldnt want to get permanent beds until I had got everything dug over. Now I have but still dont feel the need for raised beds. Everyone is different
Dont let them worry you. If they ask again, say you want to get to know the plot before you do anything too permanent. They should be happy with that - shows you care I think!
Tomaahtoes, tomaytoes

[zazen999]

I was and think, am still the only person with all raised beds on our plots. I stand alone but proud!

They have started to creep in though, along with munty frames which were being admired by newbies just last weekend

[Fruit&2veg]

Must admit I am a bit of an Arthur myself,I like the traditional ways, but that doesnt mean I am right or wrong, thats the beauty of gardening, it alows everyone to express their own ideas, in many instances taking the best bits of many different systems to create one that suits you.

[Snadger]

]I was and think, am still the only person with all raised beds on our plots. [/COLOR]I stand alone but proud!

They have started to creep in though, along with munty frames which were being admired by newbies just last weekend

Me too!

If Arthur, or whoever ain't happy, tell them to look up the word Potager.

[chris]

I'm one of two people on my plot with raised beds. Regardless of who (site sec, owner whatever) they were if someone came to me and told me to grow in a traditional fashion I'd tell them to go forth and multiply!

[Aberdeenplotter]

I was and think, am still the only person with all raised beds on our plots. I stand alone but proud!

Lol you rebel you, but seriously, if it works for you then more power to your elbow.

I will say though that I'm not a fan of having lawns on allotments as opposed to grassed paths. Allotments are provided for growing food, not growing grass, and most are heavily subsidised. More importantly many people are on a waiting list for ground on which to grow food. As Forest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that"

[chris]

Missed that bit - what's the lawn part for?

[Two_Sheds]

I bet Arthur has a bad back. Raised beds are great for people with disabilities, because they don't have to bend so far to do the gardening.

John next to me does raised beds, and he's as old as the hills

[zazen999]

Lol you rebel you, but seriously, if it works for you then more power to your elbow.

I will say though that I'm not a fan of having lawns on allotments as opposed to grassed paths. Allotments are provided for growing food, not growing grass, and most are heavily subsidised. More importantly many people are on a waiting list for ground on which to grow food. As Forest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that"

I wouldn't have a lawn myself either - I would rather a nectar bed to get the bees in, but if that's where the OP sits to admire his veg and look longingly at his leeks, it's a darn sight nicer than sitting on a cardboard mulch.

OP - I'd draw attention to the fact that if you grow in beds, you can get up to 3 times the amount of veg into the same area.

[Two_Sheds]

We have people up the site who disapprove of flower growing (except the regulation dahlias and chrysanths for the missus)

They don't make the connection between flower > bee > crop pollination