Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Godhelm on August 19, 2013, 21:52
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Originally posted in Share your pot pics ;)
New area added to my plot - still working on plans for layout. Want to have this area primarily for fruit and current area for veg. Area is roughly 60 sq.m. Current plot is about 82 sq.m. So a useful addition. Shed is a communal facility, but area to the right of the shed is mine, so space to put another shed there, or some decking and a parasol
Some ideas of possible arrangements attached - suggestions welcome! According to my measurements it is a pretty odd shape, but I didn't have my tape measure with me this evening, so tied knots in string and then measured when I got home! Might be some inaccuracy ...
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center looks best to me :)
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Some ideas of possible arrangements attached - suggestions welcome! According to my measurements it is a pretty odd shape, but I didn't have my tape measure with me this evening, so tied knots in string and then measured when I got home! Might be some inaccuracy ...
I like the one on the right hand side with the centre plot.
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Thanks for the feedback on my possible layouts for new area. Aesthetically, I prefer the version with the centre and surrounding beds, but I'm less sure about practicality. Bed is pretty much North-South aligned, and as I am planning to grow things like raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries and ideally some small apple & pear trees, I need to think about whether the mature plants will create shady areas - seems more likely in the layout with the central bed than the other options. The centre option (with the 6 rectangluar beds) carries on the layout from my current plot - a series of 3.2m x 1.4m beds. There's merit in that from the perspective that I am planning to build some big 'cloches' that size which I could use in the veg area for brassicas or the fruit area (e.g. for strawberries). Will probably 'peg ad string' out some of the options to see what they look like. Amy other ideas welcomed!
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Here's a fourth option. All beds are 1.2m wide. Paths are 0.5m wide.
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Think I've lost the plot now (not literally!)
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Not the last one - unless you're happy to be jumping over the beds to get to where you want to go next. :) I like the one before that, it gives you more access and flexibility, and it doesn't have to be laid out like Versailles...!
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Here's a fourth option. All beds are 1.2m wide. Paths are 0.5m wide.
would keep paths at 600 :)
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Here's a fourth option. All beds are 1.2m wide. Paths are 0.5m wide.
would keep paths at 600 :)
Path width is often dictated by how you garden - are the beds raised, do you need to kneel in the paths to weed, or do you want to get a wheelbarrow down between the beds? If your beds aren't raised, path width is often less of an issue, going on what my neighbours do at my site.
Go for whatever suits you - you don't have to be the same as everyone else.
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Current plot has 1.4m wide beds with roughly 0.7m paths. Paths are covered with woven membrane tucked down vertically into the edge of the beds. No wood or other barrier between beds and paths. Beds are "raised" only in terms of being mounded due to digging and added organic material. Will do the same in the new section so that nothing is set in stone (or even wood) and to prevent creation of snail hotels. I tend to garden on my knees, rather than at the end of a long-handled hoe, so kneeling space is a consideration for weeding in particular. Distance from knee to bottom of boot is the relevant measure here. Less worried about wheelbarrow access as bulk deliveries of manure, compost, etc. cannot get onto the site.
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Here's a fourth option. All beds are 1.2m wide. Paths are 0.5m wide.
would keep paths at 600 :)
Path width is often dictated by how you garden - are the beds raised, do you need to kneel in the paths to weed, or do you want to get a wheelbarrow down between the beds? If your beds aren't raised, path width is often less of an issue, going on what my neighbours do at my site.
Go for whatever suits you - you don't have to be the same as everyone else.
Has to agree ! but my knees are shot so use a long handle for as much as possible :)
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Finally decided on this option - now with more accurate proportions! All marked out with string (though need to move the main horizontal path upwards a bit for balance).
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That one is my favourite also.
How are the different sections going to be created, raised beds?
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I like the one with four beds around, and one in the middle. Four for veg rotation, one for permanent fruit.
Totty
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I'm not going to create raised beds in the sense of wodden surrounds, etc. but the beds will be mounded somewhat due to digging and added compost/manure. Paths will be covered with weed suppressant fabric tucked down into the edges of the beds.
As I have a plot next to this one with 9 beds of 3.2m x 1.4m on which I am growing veg, I want to focus this area more on fruit. I have grand plans to put posts and wires around the outside with espalier apples and pears, raspberries and similar grown up them. The centre 4 beds would have gooseberries, currants, rhubarb (moved from my current beds) and possibly blueberries. Possibly arches at the 4 main path entries to the plot with something (sweet peas? runner beans? roses?) growing over them. Reality will probably be somewhat less grand (but not too much, I hope).
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Sounds good. Remember to take some pics beforehand.
Totty
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This is the 'before' picture and current plan. Yet to be costed and probably way too much, so will have to build up over time.
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Keep an eye on the Greenfingers sales for cheap arches. I've got 3 and they are pretty sturdy for a tenner each. Nutley's kitchen garden do really good bird netting that doesn't fall apart easily. They will cut it to order if you phone them, so getting non-standard sizes is nice and simple.
I love the fruit tree 'walls', am doing the same on mine and have just got the first espalier to put in. And a quince to torture into my best impression of a fan. :)