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I have just signed my tenancy agreement for my very first allotment! But in amongst all the technical do's & don'ts, it say that i can't have friut trees or bushes that don't mature in a year. Does anyone know what this means?
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Hi Huxley
Congrats on signing up for your first allotment. Not certain what "mature within one year" means but I initially took it to mean that you can expect a crop off them after a year on your plot, though why I'm not sure. After some further thought - maybe they want to ensure that trees don't outgrow your allotment and shade out your neighbours. Maybe that's what they mean - do not plant trees that will add growth (upwards & outwards) each and every year but will reach full maturity one year after planting. Maybe WiZeR or another allotmenteer will be able to assist with a defining reason - I know WiZeR has had fruit tree advice from his allotment secretary recently after planting a couple of fruit trees on his allotment.
Happy GardeningRat
British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God
http://scotsburngarden.blogspot.com/
http://davethegardener.blogspot.com/ -
Hi Huxley welcome to the forum. We have had alot of problems on our allotment site with overgrown trees which have all been removed during the last nine months. Some trees were huge especially on the plot next to ours and stopped some of the vegetables growing. The rules do allow fruit trees and fruit bushes but I think you really are best to telephone the secretary and ask exactly what "matures in a year" means. Best to do that before you spend any money on fruit trees and bushes.[Comment
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The council in our area have a complete ban on tree on the allotments. However, the people in charge of my site where happy to let me plant them as long as they were dwarfing varieties. (i.e M27) It seems you can not get plum or pear in this very dwarfing form and so I have been advised to train them into a fan shape. This will control the height to no more than 6ft. I guess it is common sense when it come to placement, etc. If it is going to intrude on any of your neighbours in any way then you need to rethink. Don't let this put you off though. Anything can be worked around. You can read about my troubles here and here
cheersComment
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The problem arises because of the fear that people come on, plant trees, do not tend them and plant varieties that are vigourous. My old allotment was like this until miniarettes came in and dwarfing stocks, I always think that on an allotment you are better off fan training or espalier because then you can dictate how high and wide they get. I have known allotments to make plot holders takeaway their trees when they leave, rootball and all or else charge them for the removal. I would sit down with the allotment society and tell them you would like to grow fruit trees but will (a) fan train them or espalier them, or; (b) pot train them (this is when you grow varieties in pot on the soil and cut off any roots at the end of the season that has grown through the drainage hole), and; (c) get miniature trees or stepover trees.Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb talesComment
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I know diddly squat about allotments, but thinking... I'm wondering if they also say this on the basis that if it's quick to mature, it won't set down as deep a set of roots as slower growing ones and with this in mind, the next person on your plot will have an easier job removing them if unwanted?Shortie
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding CarterComment
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help! new allotment
Thanks for all the advice! It all kinda makes sense now. I only really want to grow fruit bushes really, so maybe i can get away with that. I don't think the council bloke goes there very often as he didn't seem to know how neglected all the plots were!Comment
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Most of the fruit bushes (currants & Goosberries) are OK. We nominally have a ban on ALL trees on our for the reasons stated above. Whilst the tops may not be vigourous the roots can still be & will suck the moisture out of you plot & neighbours.
Congrats on the lottie, we will await the photo's with interestntg
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic==================================================Comment
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I would have thought that it's something to do with the shade from a tall tree too."Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple
Location....Normandy FranceComment
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