New allotment, where to start?

[Lazgaot]

Why not speak to your allotment officer and see if you can get someone on the waiting list to be a co-worker with you?

[PAULW]

I've been offered (and accepted) three plots in Colchester, each one of them only 5 rods. Having the choice is important.

So Paul are you going to dig one this year, one next year and one the year after seeing as you think ten rod is to much in one year.

[Paul Wagland]

If allotment associations want to cater for people who can't manage a 10 rod plot, half plots should be made available. In our case this is not necessary as all our plotholders manage there 10 rod plots quite easily the first year!

I'd certainly like to see people offered the choice between 10 and five rod plots, The trouble is, once councils get the 'half plot' idea in their heads, they start cutting all vacant plots in half, just to get through the waiting lists faster. I've been offered (and accepted) three plots in Colchester, each one of them only 5 rods. Having the choice is important.

[Snadger]

Agreed, clearly. Not everyone who wants an allotment is fully fit though, or has enough time to get it completely dug over before the growing season really starts. That shouldn't mean they aren't allowed a plot, should it?

The biggest reason people give up on their plots (usually after just one year) is that they can't cope with it all at once. I don't think there's any shame in taking on a neglected plot, controlling one half (plastic, strimming, mypex, whatever) and cultivating one half in the first year, then using their first winter season to bring the uncultivated half up to speed.

Sorry Paul, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

If you only cultivate half your plot the first season, the next person on the waiting list would surely be aggrieved, and rightly so, along with our committee as it happens, if half a plot is put down to plastic the first season where someone else could have been feeding there family from it!

In the past this was probably acceptable, but with the current waiting lists for plots these days its just WRONG!

If allotment associations want to cater for people who can't manage a 10 rod plot, half plots should be made available. In our case this is not necessary as all our plotholders manage there 10 rod plots quite easily the first year!

[bluemoon]

I'll just say what I always say. Visit in foul weather during winter, even if just for a few minutes. Identify frost pockets, waterlogged areas, decide if you need windbreaks and look for any areas that might be in permanent shade over the winter months when the sun is low. This way, come summer, you won't set out any overwintering veg in an unsuitable position.

[Paul Wagland]

If you want an allotment you need to be prepared to put a bit of time and graft into it.

Agreed, clearly. Not everyone who wants an allotment is fully fit though, or has enough time to get it completely dug over before the growing season really starts. That shouldn't mean they aren't allowed a plot, should it?

The biggest reason people give up on their plots (usually after just one year) is that they can't cope with it all at once. I don't think there's any shame in taking on a neglected plot, controlling one half (plastic, strimming, mypex, whatever) and cultivating one half in the first year, then using their first winter season to bring the uncultivated half up to speed.

[Snadger]

Some good replies to this thread.

I must admit I tend to agree with PAULW. If you want an allotment you need to be prepared to put a bit of time and graft into it.

Fair comment that if you are disabled or injured this won't be possible,(and should maybe think of a half plot initially) but generally speaking if you are fit you should be able to knock a 10 rod plot into shape in no time at all.

As has already been mentioned NOW is the ideal time to get the digging done before the weeds start growing in spring. If you are a keen fruit and veg grower you will want that land ready to plant/sow in the late spring.

The point about people on huge waiting lists is also a good one. How would you feel if they were waiting for an allotment and someone else is given the opportunity, only to cover the whole lot with some form of plastic!
I am all for organic mulch with plants growing through it, but a sea of plastic?..........Nah!

[PAULW]

Hiring a strimmer costs about �30 - no cheaper than a roll of DPM. Of course in the summer you'll need to strim every weekend.

1 Why would you have to strim every weekend when you have already dug all the grass out, the reason from strimming is to clear the ground so you can see what you are digging

It's horses for courses really: DPM is better for keeping weeds down in a given area for a long period of time, a strimmer is better for clearing areas like paths and edges, where you can't use DPM or where you're ready to cultivate the land straight away.

2. It is WINTER the weeds are not growing and this is the time of year to get the rough digging done,
3. We are talking about digging a 10 rod plot less fruit bushes not Hercules clearing the Augean stables

Next, decide how much of the plot you can bring into cultivation in your first year

4. If you cannot manage to cultivate the amount of ground you have, on our site that plot would be taken away from you and given to someone who can manage, we have 30 people on the waiting list you cannot have people sitting on a plot and not using it.

[Paulottie]

I wouldn't bother with either.

If your going to invest - get the best...Mypex. Great for the early years. Otherwise use cardboard boxes or newspaper.

I wouldn't bother with HIRING!!!!! a strimmer either....unless there is lots of folk to share in the price for the day. (I get 2 allotments for �30) Noisy things anyway- I'd buy a sickle/scythe at the car boot handy to keep in your proposed shed...unlikely to get nicked and very effective in practised hands

I suggest spend the money on a good quality spade and fork, and a box of matches, a delivery of horsemuck or similar.....dig the weeds out (dry a bit and burn / or dig a big grave sized hole and bury them all)then dig the muck in.

[Paul Wagland]

Instead of wasting your money on DPM I would hire a strimmer if you haven't already got one and knock the grass off, you can now start digging once the ground has thawed, the weeds won't grow this time of year, I dont know what sort of limp wristed diggers there are giving advice on this site but I can lend you a 76 yr old bloke off our site that would have the front bit of your plot up to the timber dug and deweeded in about 14 hrs thats 7 days at two hours a day and that includes talking.

Hiring a strimmer costs about �30 - no cheaper than a roll of DPM. Of course in the summer you'll need to strim every weekend.

It's horses for courses really: DPM is better for keeping weeds down in a given area for a long period of time, a strimmer is better for clearing areas like paths and edges, where you can't use DPM or where you're ready to cultivate the land straight away.

[Akumos]

lol you should keep them, it's a good talking point!

[Beetroot Bob]

Thanks Denise, will look into that then.

Thanks PaulW, I was thinking of hiring strimmer. Might still cover the parts I don't think i'll be able to reach before spring.

Thanks Beetroot Bob, Already looked through your piccies whilst reading through
other posts on the forum. Well done! What's with the bath tubs though? lol

They came with the plot and are make shift water buts until we "find" more blue barrels. There's only 2 taps on our site so you have to collect all you can.

And have you never wanted to have a bath after a days digging ??

[Snadger]

Akumos
Instead of wasting your money on DPM I would hire a strimmer if you haven't already got one and knock the grass off, you can now start digging once the ground has thawed, the weeds won't grow this time of year, I dont know what sort of limp wristed diggers there are giving advice on this site but I can lend you a 76 yr old bloke off our site that would have the front bit of your plot up to the timber dug and deweeded in about 14 hrs thats 7 days at two hours a day and that includes talking.

And tea, of course! Lol

[Akumos]

Thanks Denise, will look into that then.

Thanks PaulW, I was thinking of hiring strimmer. Might still cover the parts I don't think i'll be able to reach before spring.

Thanks Beetroot Bob, Already looked through your piccies whilst reading through
other posts on the forum. Well done! What's with the bath tubs though? lol

[Beetroot Bob]

I think you may as well bite the bullet and get it dug and weeded/de-rooted first as last. Looks like you've got a fair bit of couch grass and that will need to be dug out as the roots are thick and will keep coming unless you get them all out.

We took our plot on in November and finished our first dig on Boxing day. I thin we got about 85% of the roots and weeds out onthe first dig. It's now been left rough for the frost to do it's bit. We dug ALL the plot and will now set out our paths and cover them with plastic then bark. The beds will now be dug again and given muck where needed and riddled where the roots are going. Once they have thawed out that is

Our plot was worse than yours but the committee strimmed it for us before we started digging. It'ds been hard work bu the sort of work that gives you a real feel good buzz. There's piccys on my profile if you want to see the progress.

Happy digging - and welcome