Grow Your Own Magazine

Hey everyone.

I was just wondering. What do you normally expect when you begin to rent out an allotment? If a shed/greenhouse has been left by a previous tennant I'm assuming it's left there for you useage unless someone has stolen it or what??

Also any beginners tips or links for allotments would be great.

Thankyou.

I would say that what is on your plot when you pays your rent is yours for doing what ever you wants, be it veg or buildings [sheds coldframes,]as to what you , normally expect when you begin is alot of hard work, but take your time start small and slow, do not try and do everything all at once, good luck.

Welcome to the vine rockhag!

The person who showed you the plot should have mentioned what was yours to use.
If the shed is open and empty, I would just stick a padlock on it and claim it!
These things have a way of sorting themselves out i.e. Introducing yourself and chatting to neighbours is a good start, and lets them know you don't want to tread on anyones toes!
Hope you enjoy your plot and keep us informed of how you're getting on with a few piccies if poss!
Happy allotmenteering!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Every lottie I've taken (three to date, as I move) has been a weed infested mess, available because the previous tenant can't work it for some reason. Depending on site rules their may or may not be a shed, and you may or may not be *allowed* a shed. Some sites say no - check first.

Anything on you plot is fair gain from the date you take it over having paid rent. On some sites you might be given help to clear part of it (or it may have been 'cause I was pregnant and they took pity )

In all cases I have found all the lottie folk to be friendly and helpful, and I have often been offered such wonderful things as leeks ready to plant out, brassica seedlings and lettuce seedlings.

Good luck, there will be hard work ahead but it is worth it - and if you are finding it hard, tell the management, they might be able to help you more than you realise. It is not unknown for a site to own its own rotovator, strimmer etc.....

Have a good season

Terry

Hello - and welcome to the Vine Rockhag
I think you should expect a lot of advice from your neighbours!!!!(whether you need it or not!!!! )
You'll soon work out your own system though!
Hard work.....yes indeed!
Aching muscles.....to be sure!
You'll soon find out all the positive sides and wonder what took you so long before deciding to get a lottie!!
As to sites/links........well of course- this is the best one

Hi Rockhag,

Speaking as a committee person of our lottie site when you pays yer money it's all yours unless you are told otherwise. I recently moved plots & the person who took over mine was asked if he would leave a part of it alone as it had my Brussels & leeks on and they weren't due to stop cropping till after he took over and he has agreed - I suspect he wants them out of the way now though so I shall take a few leeks and he can have whats left for being patient.

On our site we have recently aquired some shed ( 12 to be precise) and they were rented out to the tenants for a one off payment and they will sign an agreement to say that they will maintain them in good order and if they leave they stay on the plot. We are hoping to eventually have one for all the plots so we loose the "Soweto" look

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I'll defintley take pictures. I haven't seen it yet. I sent off the intital letter saying that I accept the plot that's been allocated to me and I'm just waiting for an appointment/tenancy agreements to be sorted out now! Good idea about the padlock too.

Thankyou everyone for the warm welcome and good advice!

Hi Rockhag, and welcome.

As has been said, you should have been told what was yours to use etc, in the way of sheds etc., but I just wanted to point out that when I was shown my lottie, I was told by the committee lady that the previous tenants wanted me to pay them something for the shed. I just looked a bit sceptical, rattled the loose door a bit and made some unimpressed noises and left it at that (didn't want to commit myself to having to cough up for a few bits of ropey old wood!!). She also told me that the previous tenants wanted to reserve the right to come back for some of the fruit crop etc. Then I spoke to the local council allotment manager and asked her what she thought I ought to do; she advised that I didn't have to pay for the shed if I didn't want it, and that she would arrange for it to be dismantled and removed for me if I liked, and she advised that I speak to the old tenants to find out exactly what it was they were expecting to come and pick from the plot and find out when they might do this, as in effect I could now do what I wanted and could dig up anything I didn't want to keep. I gave them a ring, to clarify things, and they did initially say they wanted a bit of cash for the shed, but when I said I was thinking about getting it taken down as it was a bit ropey, they thought better of it. I also explained that as far as I could see the only fruit on the plot was a handful of rassies and a bit of well-past-it rhubarb, and they also thought better of coming back for that too.

It's always best to get that sort of thing cleared up early so there can be no room for misunderstanding later on (one of my lottie neighbours has had several problems because they assumed that things were there for them, when the previous tenant hadn't stipulated their intentions very clearly, and it has caused some uncomfortableness!).

If your plot's a bit weed-ridden, it will be a fair bit of hard work, but it's a very satisfying sort of feeling and will be worth the effort in the long run. Get some piccies up!!!!!

Enjoy!

Sarah

You always get people trying it on about paying for their old junk (sheds). Call their bluff and tell them they're welcome to come and take it away,but give a date to take it by, else you'll have the ruddy thing sitting there rotting for months/years (as I did...someone gave me a tenner for my old shed but never did take it away.)

As for returning for their crops...ha ha. In my Brighton flat we had these fabulous Swiss Cheese growing in dustbins, 12 foot high. An ex-tenant came by to take them back (after five years!!!). We were all a bit annoyed, but said if she could lift them out of the flat she could have them. We nearly peed ourselves laughing watching her attempt it... the plants stayed.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I can't beleive the cheek of the old tenants wanting to come back! If they can't be bothered with tending the plants then why on Earth should they come reep the rewards! I'd call their bluff and ask them to remove anything that they want to keep - and tell them that anything left will be completely yours!

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Kermit aka Jade

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad