[rachelsco]

i love my allotment even though its all trail and error as ive only been doing it for a year.
i had a very productive year though i was not organised at all, people gave me loads of seedlings to plant.  so what looked like an overgrown field at first looked like a proper allotment by late summer. now the allotment next to mine is free and can be mine but this also looks like a lumpy field of couch grass and nettles, do you think i am taking on too much for a newbie?  and how best to oganise it all?

[devonbarmygardener]

Hate to be a party pooper but...

...is there a waiting list for your site?

I often think I'd love another plot, but by the height of summer I struggle with the plot I have because I work almost full time plus agency work.

I know it would be silly to take on another plot and we have quite a waiting list so it also wouldn't be fair.

Enjoy what you have.

Emma

[BabbyAnn]

When I took my first (half) plot on, I thought it was more than enough until I got going in the 2nd year and realised that I didn't have enough space for everything I wanted to grow.  No waiting lists at the time so when I enquired about vacant plots I got one immediately that was nearly 3 times bigger than my half plot but was heavily infested with all the evil perennial weeds you can think of (couch grass, nettles, bindweed, marestail, bramble).  With no pressure, I tackled the full size plot whenever I had free time and as long as I was seen doing something, the slow progress was not frowned on.  At first I grew only summer crops through weed suppressant fabric keeping the half plot for mainly root crops while I gradually cleared the plot and improved the soil and ventured on to other crops. 

A couple of years later I finally got the plot up to full production, but it wasn't long before it dawned on me that I never had time to do other things.  And some weekends I was torn between going to one or other plot, and I won't even mention the deteriorating state of my house.  Then our site got a waiting list and although no-one was told to give up their multiple plots, there was no doubt a lot of pressure to do so.  Before long I started to resent the allotment.

Last year the drought was too much as the heavy clay soil baked and was too difficult to dig over (I have arthritis in my hip and elbow) and I had to spend too much time rescuing the crops.  When it finally rained, all the weed seeds decided to germinate at the same time adding to the woes.  The final straw was an eviction notice on my big plot - with the cold snap in May, a lot of my sowings had failed miserably and along with some beds I was unable to dig over properly, there were gaps and the plot appeared uncultivated even though I had lots of other things growing.

I was able to explain the problems I'd had on the big plot which the council accepted due to the exceptional circumstances but it dawned on me that splitting my time between 2 plots (which were on opposite ends of the site BTW) had really been the main reason.  I spent the next few months wondering what to do - both plots had good reasons for keeping but there was no doubt the big plot had the potential (and the space to grow the summer crops that I love) so I gave up the half plot and you cannot believe what a relief it has been.

So to answer your question - at the moment you are no doubt full of enthusiasm and providing your site hasn't got a waiting list as devonbarmygardener has pointed out, I see no reason why you cannot ask to take on the plot.  Being a newbie has a lot going for you so don't let that put you off but my advice is to recognise when things get too much and when it stops being an enjoyment but a chore, then make a decision and choose which of the 2 plots is best for you. 

[NN2Blue]

i love my allotment even though its all trail and error as ive only been doing it for a year.
i had a very productive year though i was not organised at all, people gave me loads of seedlings to plant.  so what looked like an overgrown field at first looked like a proper allotment by late summer. now the allotment next to mine is free and can be mine but this also looks like a lumpy field of couch grass and nettles, do you think i am taking on too much for a newbie?  and how best to oganise it all?

I have two;  if it wasn't for my love of growing all sorts of spud varieties two would actually be too much.  A couple of plot holders have given up their second plots because they are taking up too much time, especially with the past two very dry summers making plot maintenance more of a chore. They were also ending up with way too much produce.
It's a balancing act. 

[goodtogrow]

I wouldn't let your being a newbie put you off.  You've already proved that you can take on a plot and bring it round.

Assuming that you can get to the site at least once a week it's feasible.  You'll have to run your first plot on a minimum effort basis - no digging, no watering, wider spacings between plants so that you can hoe easily - definitely no hand weeding - and it is possible to run a plot like this.

I took on a wilderness of couch and nettles and spent the whole summer clearing it.  Your first plot can be planted up by the end of May with only regular hoeing required to keep on top of it.  Forked out couch and nettles root systems on the new plot can be left, upside down, to wither and keep the new plot quiet.  I ddn't aim to get much off mine the first year, just aim to clear it,
bit by bit.

Good luck if you decide to take it on.  If it's genuinely not wanted by others you'd be doing a public service by clearing it.  And the soil will be very productive after having had a 'rest'.  I haven't needed to manure mine for 3 years, and I'm just starting to now, Year 4.

[savbo]

Here's how I would view it...

Is your current plot a full one (~300m2)?
if YES - that's enough, don't take the other one
if NO - and they're both about half - take it

We started with a half plot which wasn't enough - moved up to a half and a 2/3, which was getting a bit too much esp as both had been neglected...then were offered the other 1/3 of the bigger plot so gave up the 1/2. And I don't regret it, despite the hard work that went into restoring the original plot.

There's reason why a full plot is the size it is!
sav

[mumofstig]

If there is no waiting list and you think you can work two plots then take it on and try.

If it doesn't work out give it straight back, no argument........if there was no-one waiting for it, you haven't made any difference have you 

[rachelsco]

ooo errr what to do....
my plot is opposite my house, and the new plot is opposite to my existing one, i can get every day as i only work afternoons.  there is nobody on the waiting list or it would be abit mean to hog it i admit.  my hubby is mad keen for me to have it, and is already telling me what he wants to fill it with. i still think it would be alot of work and time for all other things would be limited.  i know he could get into it and be a huge help, but even so alot of work...
my existing plot is 250 sq m and ive put 8 full rows of the sort of potatoes you cant buy in the shops which my family will be lining up for with forks at the ready,lol, ive got fruit bushes galore and several fruit trees, and 4 full rows of onions and garlic coming along, which leaves about a quarter of it left for everything else, ive got calabrese, psb,leeks, ready to go out when hardened off, and i also want to grow french and runner beans and courgettes and sweetcorn, also growing climbing annuals from seeds and other flowers to attract polinators.  i realise some stuff can go in after the early spuds come out., but i can see me running out of space.  perhaps having half a plot would be the answer?

having read all your answers and thought it thru as ive typed this i almost think ive answered my own question.  thank you everybody for your considered replies, i must say ive learnt more from this forum than from any book

[devonbarmygardener]

If there's no-one waiting and you think you can manage then go for it.
It's a shame to see plots going to waste..

I often think I'd like more space - sometimes it's very frustrating when you've added something a bit extra toyour growing plan and haven't thought about where to put it!!

There's always a waiting list for our site and I think pretty much all the Plymouth sites, so much so that plots are getting smaller and smaller - some of our half-plots have been halved again which I think is too small. Maybe it's a good idea if you've never gardened before but then it would be nice if you could move up a size once you've proved your worth!

Go for it m'dear

Emma

[LilacSandy]

If your hubby is mad keen to fill it, why don't you put it in his name and then he can do the hard work clearing it 

If running two plots will make you feel guilty that you are neglecting other work and it will make the allotment a chore do not do it.  Running an allotment should be fun and relaxing along with the hard work.

[digalotty]

i only have a half plot,  now i do run out of space and could do with more but spring is a busy time as time goes on i find spaces coming available and then im ok,    i dont want anymore space because i couldnt fit in any more time so i am more than happy to plod on rather than be snowed under and getting on top of me.   to me an allotment shouldnt just be all work  you need time to sit enjoy contemplate and just take it all in 
if you feel you have the time to work  and do two plots and still have time to enjoy them then why not take it on, 
the other alternative would be to just take another half plot my nneighbours are retired and spend 2 to 3 full days working 1 1/2plots and they have mountains of stuff from it they also use most of the half plot for fruit so plant bushes through weed barrier to cut down work

[emptydraw]

We had the opportunity to get the plot next to ours, but we decided 2 would be too much work (although each plot on our site is only 6mx20m or 120sqm).

The plot went to a couple who havent got much time, so I fear it will be full or weeds and two plots would  have been easier than one with a weed bank next door!

In hind sight we now wish we'd taken it on, and used it for things like squashes and pumpkins, which we dont have enough room for now. Its a personal thing, have you got the time/energy/money/patience.

My advice (for whats its worth) get the second plot, and give it a year or two, if its too much, hand it back. But maybe I'm selfish?

[Plot 6B]

If there is no waiting list and you think you can work two plots then take it on and try.

If it doesn't work out give it straight back, no argument........if there was no-one waiting for it, you haven't made any difference have you 

My sentiments exactly. I think my name says which side of the fence I'm on.

[Kleftiwallah]

Being the cynical old hector wot I am,   is this a ruse by the council to get the plot up to a manageable standard then say, 

"We have had a request for a plot and we cannot refuse" .  .  .  .

[lmpd]

I used to have two and although I thoroughly enjoyed doing them - I soon realised that all the other things I enjoyed in life were taking a back seat.
As previously suggested, I'd take it and see how it goes, you can always hand it back, but if someone else takes it on - it'll be too late to change your mind.