New allotments - plot size question....

[minxterkat]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the site and new to allotments - in fact mine only exists in theory at the moment! I'm very lucky to be part of a community allotment project in our village which is currently going through the planning stages, so the land is still part of a farmer's field.... I have reserved a full-sized plot (10x25m) but am a bit worried that I won't be able to keep on top of the work - I have a 3 year old and another baby on the way in the summer :). Can anyone give any advice on what sort of size is manageable? My husband is supportive, but ultimately not a gardener so I don't expect much help there ::) I also enjoy pottering in our own garden, although it's fairly low maintenance, and don't want to feel too stretched! Any thoughts much appreciated
Minx x

[minxterkat]

[glosterwomble]

It's difficult to say how much work it will take and how much work you will be able to put in as someone who is pregnant. I would personally recommend taking a half plot (half of what you are down for) as I think it would be more manageable. BUT you may well cope ok with a full one, it's just my thought. Good luck anyway!!  ;D

[ceres]

Edited to remove politically incorrect opinion.

[elvis2003]

hi minxterkat
welcome to the site and congrats on both your plot and the new arrival! i guess it all comes down to how much time you can get to spend on the plot.im sure most people get a bit scared they have taken too much on,i know we sure did,but have managed fine with a full plot. i hope your husband does discover his greenfingers once he sees how much fun you are having! good luck and let us know how you get on
rach
x

[spudsmummy]

hi there
welcome to the site  ;D
i would take the "full" plot as you could cover half of it with black plastic and work on small sections at a time.
i have had "half plot" for six weeks now, and although i have not dug all of it over i have plans for every inch of the plot. have got my eye on a plot behind mine as well. if its still free in a few months i am going to ask for it, lol.
let us know what you decide and enjoy what ever you do get.
;D
Paula

[BAK]

as a very crude rule of thumb allow 30-60 mins per pole per week from May to Sept. You are talking about a 10 pole plot ... therefore somewhere in the range 5-10 hours per week.

[Carls3168]

Although taking on a new full size plot may seem a little daunting personally I would recomend it....

You wont always be pregnant, and presuming you will be in it for the long run gradually you will be able to spend more time up there?

So, take your full plot and plan out  where your shed is going, greenhouse, pond, compost bins and maybe a grassed area for the kids to play on? So long as your commitee allow it (1/4 of the plot gone)
Add an area with a few fruit tree's, maybe some raspberrys and strawberrys, rhubarb... (another chunk gone which wont take much maintinance)
Maybe a wildlife corner with some bird tables or something?
Area for 'little un's to grow sunflowers?
Herb bed?
Flower bed?
Lay out some paths between beds and cover in weed membrane and wood chip... bit more space taken up...

That'll maybe leave you with just under a half of the allotment to actually 'tend' to between April and October???

My allotment realistically is managed with 5 minute visits after work to water the greenhouse, the odd couple of hours on a Saturday, weather permitting with the kid, and maybe 2 hours first thing on a Sunday morning by myself (you achive twice as much when your there alone) and in my first year I won the Best Newcomer prize, second year, third prize for best allotment, and last year second prize for best allotment (out of 100+ plots)  ;D
And yes I do have a pond and a greenhouse despite taking a young child up there  :o  :o .... so long as you keep an eye on them.

If it all goes wrong and you can't manage a full plot then you either share the whole plot with a freind or neighbour - or give half up! - and remember, rome wasnt built in a day.

Most importantly... ENJOY IT - its there to be fun, not a chore!!!

GOOD LUCK

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Minxterkat, just check your midwife isn't on the site, ours was and got tetchy when OH was planting onion sets with a week to go, and then working again within the week after, when she still had stitches...  ::)

[grannyjanny]

You've got a real gem there saddad.
Janet

[saddad]

yep, and OH isn't too bad either. We currently have two mid-wives on the site and "mine" has still got her husband on the committee....  ;D

[manicscousers]

welcome, minxterkat  ;D
my oh isn't really a gardener but he digs a mean planting hole, he can lay paths, make raised bed and do all the hard work..I do the actual sowing seeds, he can plant spuds and onion sets..I even let him plant my grown plants  ;D
if you are both enthusiastic about your plot, he'll soon learn to tell the difference between a weed and a parsnip (Ray 'weeded' out my first attempts  ;D
have fun with your growing, your children will appreciate all the fresh fruit and veggies and know where their food comes from  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

How big is a plot? They vary quite a bit; mine is 600 square yards, which is on the large size; in parts of London, they're a fraction of that. If you were coming to my site, I'd suggest a half plot, but that's still equivalent to most peoples' full plot!

[Trevor_D]

Hello and welcome....

Just to add my two-pennorth to the debate: I've seen loads of people - especially a few years back, when you could barely give allotments away - take on a plot far too big, fail to make much headway and become disillusioned. With my Secretary's hat on, I'd advice anyone to make a good fist of a small area and possibly expand later.

But then I've let out several plots recently where the new tenant has said, "I don't think I can cope with all that" only to ask me a few weeks down the line if the other bit is still free!

As the others have said, it depends how much time & energy you are willing to commit. But as it's a new site, another factor comes into play: if you take a full plot, are you depriving someone else of a plot? If you are, then go for half a plot. But if there's plenty of space, take the full plot now and review the situation in a year's time, when there might be a waiting list.

Good luck - exciting, innit?

[Deb P]

yep, and OH isn't too bad either. We currently have two midwives on the site and "mine" has still got her husband on the committee....  ;D

As the 'other' midwife on our site, growing your own fruit and veg are one of the best things you can do for your family, as well as being good exercise in pregnancy and postnatally (as long as you don't go mad and do a lot of heavy digging or lifting...). there is even a new grant available to pregnant women to encourage healthy eating in pregnancy......nothing to stop you spending that on plants or seeds as far as I know!

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/hipg/do-you-qualify.htm

As far as it seeming a lot of space....it may seem a lot initially, but most people find it not enough once it is all planted up. As mentioned by others, keeping weeds down is a priority, so covering part of the plot with weed suppressing membrane of plastic while you cultivate part of it might be a good place to start.

My OH is not green fingered, but as a carpenter is 'good with wood!', so he has been involved much more than he first thought in building compost bins, raised beds etc, and has even learned to love digging....so you might inspire him to get more involved. There was also a thread on this forum about involving kids on plots which you could search for, lots of info available there.

[Old bird]

Hi Minxterkat!

I would take the whole lot on - for the first year anyway it will be a starting up year and so concentrate on a part - as has been suggested - but I would also see if any of your girlfriends - other mums - would like to help out for the first couple of years?  I am sure you will be able to manage and as has been said - once the fruit - raspberries, fruit bushes strawberries have been planted with weed maintenance fabric  round them then maintenance wise it will be just once a year quick checkover.  The larger parts could just be put to potatoes - as they are useful to clear a large plot and don't require much attention!

Good luck with baby and garden!  I am sure you will manage with help from your OH!

Old Bird

;D

[kt.]

It may seem a large plot now but by the time you fill it with this list you will soon see the cultivation size shrink:

Shed
Greenhouse
Waterbutts
Compost bins
Manure pile
Paths (Personal preference)
Cold-frame
Rhubarb patch
Raspberries

You could always plant large growing plants on it for your first year such as Purple Sprouting Broccoli. It uses 2x2 ft and is in the ground for almost 12 months.  My lottie neighbour only plants winter brassicas.  He does not bother with summer stuff.  Once his stuff is in the ground from spring to summer - you never see him until late autumn harvest.  His plot is full and he spends little time there.

[Magnolia]

Hi Minx,
I took on a new allotment when my baby was only a couple of weeks old.  She is now 13 weeks and I'm struggling to get to the plot.  My romantic idea of taking her to the plot and digging whilst she slept (slept?? yeah right!!) was laughable.  I'm still feeding her on a 2 hour cycle and getting someone to look after her whilst I spend time at the allotment isnt practical as I'm breastfeeding.

Thankfully I only have a quarter plot and it has been recently worked.  I've managed to get my garlic in and my spuds are chitting.  DH will be digging this weekend and I plan to start my seedlings off at home and transplant later.

I'm glad I only have a small plot as I think under the circumstances its defo more manageable.  Plu I dont want to worry about being kicked off.
J.