Going to see an allotment - tips please?

onestep

hello

I'm going to be shown our local allotments on Saturday by the chap that is in charge of the waiting list. I get the impression that this is an interview, rather than a look-see, so I was after some good questions to ask please! Also, is there anything should I be looking out for? Water is the obvious one I guess...:rolleyes:

thanks for your help!

onestep

wigginsmum

Security would be another one. Do you need planning permission to put up a shed? Electricity points at all for boiling a kettle? Any social activities? Do they buy seeds/potatoes in bulk and offer them at a reduced price to allotment holders?

I'm trying to get hold of our local allotments guy to get on the waiting list too.

pro_bono

onestep,
wigginsmum, has it right, we do not have electric points, but we do have dip tanks every 25 yards or so. Bonfires and the local residents (we have set weekends only in the winter). Compost areas on each plot and delivery of manure, are also questions that spring to mind. The only other thing I can think of is what are you planning to grow now that the summer is upon us.

tootles_2

If the allotment is very overgrown do you get it cut before you take it over, is there a scheme to get it ploughed.

We use a small calor gas ring to boil a kettle, allotments do not have elctricity laid on, you can buy a ring that takes the small canisters for about £20 -£30, they come in a little case.

We do not leave expensive stuff in our shed, surrounded by a high fence with security gates, they still get broken into. Spades etc carried to the allotment in the boot of the car and taken home at the end of our stint.

sophistica

I have just got an allotment. You'll probably be put on probation and asked to dig 65 feet X 20 feet in the middle of a heat wave before you get a contract. Then you can spend your evenings digging and smarming to the allotment committee while carrying your tools, sweating, digging and being bitten by mosquitos.

moggins

Do they get badgers attacking the sweetcorn? We do around here, the little beggars knock it over then eat the ears.

onestep

sophistica wrote:

You'll probably be put on probation and asked to dig 65 feet X 20 feet in the middle of a heat wave before you get a contract. Then you can spend your evenings digging and smarming to the allotment committee while carrying your tools, sweating, digging and being bitten by mosquitos.

are you trying to put me off?

luckily this allotment would be cleared before I take over, apparently. And as for what to grow, I'm open to suggestions!!

onestep

COOLTRIKERCHICK

it might be worth asking... what doesnt do well growing there...as i havent long take over an overgrown allotment.... and by all accounts... there is a worn that loves potatos.... but this year i am just concentrating on getting the ground clear and putting raised beds in... ready for autumn and spring planting.....

good luck.... hope you get one.....it is very...very...very... hard work in the begining.... but just be forcused to what you will be havesting......

JoeyEmma

Are there skips on site? Our allotment site has a certain number of skips paid for a year to remove non-recylcable/ burnable rubbish. Its very handy.

Also is there a loo on site? We have a portaloo which can be a G-dsend.

point3

moggins wrote:

Do they get badgers attacking the sweetcorn? We do around here, the little beggars knock it over then eat the ears.

Coo! Is that what it is? My sweetcorn have been attacked and I thought it was due to vandals - the plants are tough as old boots!!

point3

Onestep, I agree with the others.

Ask if the plots have been cultivated in the past or if you will have to be cutting down shoulder-height brambles! Some allotments will help prepare the ground for you by strimming down weeds and rotovating or they may have a brushcutter and rotovator that they are prepared to lend to you.

Find out what the soil drainage is like - ours is to boggy to work on from winter until mid-Spring! (And too dry now - now that we have a hosepipe ban ). If the soil is poor, then are there any cheap sources of compost or manure available? Is there an allotment shop where you can purchase cheap plants and seeds? Ask what grows well - if you chat with the regulars you'll soon find some who grow competition specimens and may well have spares that they want to pass on! I have some prize chrysanthemums this way .

What fun you'll have!