[oharabe]

Hello all,
i have just found out that i am now the proud owner of 300 sq mtrs of allotment
i have spent the last 3 to 4 years growing in my back garden but i have found that i have out grown this area.
So my request for help is that i have been told that i need to split the allotment into 3 sections can anyone direct me to some sort of "plan" to follow.
the allotment has been used recently and won't take a lot to sort out but would love to have some idea of how to lay it out.
Thanks in advance

[DD.]

I've moved your post to GYO where more growers are likely to see it. Please pop back to the Welcome Forum and introduce yourself.

A good place to start is here:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/growing_information.php

where you'll find a lot of articles, including clearing & planning a plot.

[allotment south wales]

There shouldn't be a reason to split your allotment plot into three areas,

Use a crop rotation plan..   Basic  Four year plan...

Rotation of crops every year.

Moving the first crop into the second area and the over crops up until four years time the original crop is Grown in the same area.

Basic rotation plan..

Area one       brassicas, cabbages, sprouts, kale,swede.
Area two       roots, carrots, parsnips, potatoes
Area three    peas, beans, salards, sweetcorn, squashes,
Area four      onions, leeks, shallots

others are to be grown in and perminant area.

fruit bushes             =  permenant bed
globe artichokes      =  permenant bed
asparigus                =  permenant bed

[oharabe]

  Thanks for the advice I think thats what meant to say originally - crop rotation, well now I now know a technical allotment phrase LOL
looking forward to remaining snow and ice to thaw so I can get going, no doubt will be back for more help.

[gavinjconway]

As DD said above.... go to the growing help  section - loads of good info there.. http://www.allotment-garden.org/growing_information.php


A quick overview of rotations..

3 year
Potatoes
Brassicas
Everything else

4 year
Potatoes
Legumes
Brassicas
Roots


I'm going to go for a combo 4 year..
Potatoes
Legummes & Brassicas
Curcurbita (squashes etc. ) & sweet corn
Roots

[savbo]

One of the things that it's easy to miss when thinking about rotation is how much of any one group you need....and that can be hard to get a feel for when you're starting off. At the start of my 4th year, I'm actually looking at a 6-year rotation because it fits with my 12 beds - 2 beds each of
-potatoes
-legumes
-brassicas
-squashes and courgettes
-carrots and parsnips plus turnips and other roots
-onion family
so start with a 3- or 4-part rotation and see how many spuds you like growing!
sav

[gavinjconway]

When you look at three year Potatoes, Brassicas and Everything Else it shows its not 100% exact and as long as you dont plant same things after each-other you will generally be ok..  i might be wrong but thats what the experts say...

[leeks r us]

Gav its never  ok just because you crop rotate doesnt mean you will have no problems! I have had the same onion and leek bed for at least 8 probably 9 years and they are still growing without disease and to a good show standard. Have a look at the robinsons website i think they have had their onion bed in use for about 15 years maybe more. There is nothing set in stone where gardening is concerned as long as you burn any diseased plants and the soil around them which is not often.