the plot next to me is mine if i want it, shall i take it??????????

i  have read this thread with interst as I have just taken on another 1/2 allotment.  My large lottie is 7.5 miles away from my house and I found I was missing out on a lot of veggies as I can/could only get there once a week.  This meant things like beans, PSP had often gone over when I got there. This Large (older) lottie is going to be used for veggies that take longer to grow such as parsnips, pumpkins etc.  I put my name for a lottie around the corner from me stating I be happy with a 1/2 allotment.  I was lucky to get one at Easter.  I am really pleased at this point it is a 1/2 plot as the full ones look huge and intimidating.  My Large lottie is basically sorted for the year except for the planting etc, but its taken me 3 years to get to this point.  An allotment can seem to take over and this needs to be kept in perspective but it brings me so much joy the work is worth it.  I'm going to use my little lottie for those crops that I pick as I need as it is literally 5 mins walk away.  I can't wait for the strawberries etc. My current plan is to spend a good few hours once a week at the Large Lottie and evening/mornings at the Little lottie. 

By the way my OH is also keen for me to grow all sorts of things and tells people what he is growing on his allotment.  I let him get away with it as he has done a lot of the heavy digging & constructed my raised beds etc.  Since thats been done he will only get involved with potatoes for some reason - I grow beans as a reward.    But I agree with the others - get hubby involved, its a great way to spend the afternoon together and having some digging done. .  And think about what time you can realistically spend on it.  Most of all - enjoy!

I have two half plots each on different sites, and have to say that without a rotovator with which I can dig over a half plot in 2 hours, so now it gets turned over at least once a fortnight, until a section is planted. now I can complete the unplanted sections of both sites in 2 hours. personally thats about all I can manage with the spare time I have at the moment, next week I have a new job, part time 2 - 3 days a week, so I hope to be able to devote more time to the plots and other jobs needed
Grendel

I feel so long as you would be prepared to give one plot up if there came a waiting list for newcomers to enjoy what you already enjoy then go for it. Far better than letting it go to seed and sending weeds your way. What I dont like to see is people taking up territory just because its vacant and then not giving it back to the society if there cojes a demand for plots, leaving newcomers without a chance of coming on.

I am sure that is not the position in your case.

Not "taken off" Yorkie, but handed over to a new gardener and if need be, coached by more experienced gardeners until able to do it by themselves or have proven their ability to maintain a plot. Too many times a newbie comes along to try this allotment lark as you say, but they are given no help at all to learn all there is to an allotment. Is it their fault entirely then when it all goes wrong. I feel there needs to be a greater community spirit on our allotments again, especially where newcomers are concerned.

well folks thanks for all those replies, i havent been on the forum for a couple of weeks,
(a wet holiday in cornwall). weeds everywhere when i got back, im sure they werent this bad last year - was that because it was dryer in the spring??

so.... what did i do...?? i didnt take it, i thought it would be just too much work for a newbie to tackle, i want to be able to keep on top of the one ive got which seems time consuming and difficult enough.  i also realised that it would be more of a worry to me than a pleasure till ive got more experience ( of course by the time im more experienced it will probably be gone, but hey ho, easy come easy go, somebody will enjoy it).
being a newbie too, id forgot id have space when i lifted my onions and garlic  , also my perpetual spinich is beginning to bolt, so that will make space too. :happy:
my hubby is suprised that this is what ive decided, but he is too much of petrolhead to be a long term allotmenteer.  i just want to get this one right, and not have the worry of not having time to do them both properly. 

 :)Well done - I think you have been very sensible about it! Wishing you all the success for this year with your plot