Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Sadgit on December 11, 2006, 14:46

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 11, 2006, 14:46

Right I think the time might be right for me to get a plot. My patch at home just isn't big enough for me any more :)

Been looking at the sites in Middlesbrough and what worries me is the vandals, as the allotments are all in pretty poor areas and I don't want to put all the effort in for some scumbag to trash it...

anyone from the boro have a plot on 1 of the 6 sites? I'm looking at either
Beechwood Allotment Site
Saltersgill Allotment Site (Self Managed Site)


Cheers
SG

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 11, 2006, 17:57

These are the yearly rental costs.. sure I saw a post on here saying about cost of various places in the uk., but darned if I can find it :)

Are these prices, good/bad/about right?


PLOT SIZE               STANDARD RATE
1/8th of an Acre   59.60
1/16th of an Acre   29.80
1/32rd of an Acre   22.00


Cheers
SG

Title: Plot
Post by: DD. on December 11, 2006, 18:05

After converting to sq meters - that's about what I'm paying!

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 11, 2006, 18:11

just taken me 30 mins to convert to meters.... and I used to be good at maths lol

was going to go for the 1/16 but after converting it, I might go for the 1/32

126 square meters is prolly more than enough.. or damn should I just go for te 1/16th... aarrgghh :lol:

Title: Plot
Post by: ytyynycefn on December 11, 2006, 18:17

Have you measured your existing plot, so you know how big the allotment would be in comparison?  It might be easier to decide based on knowing whether it's twice as big as what you have now, or if you want something three or four times bigger.  

Also, don't forget to factor in stuff which takes up lots of space - paths, shed, greenhouse, manure heap, compost bins - maybe a sitting area or even a pond.  If you get one that seems a lot bigger than you need, there's always fruit bushes, space for a permanent asparagus or globe artichoke bed and maybe a herb garden too.

Just a thought!

I'd have the plot next to mine aswell  if the council would let me have it and didn't keep believing the bloke has a broken arm....     :roll:

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 11, 2006, 18:46

Mine is just part of my back garden at the mo, 3x6 meters or something like that..

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 12, 2006, 07:31

what does it mean when it says "self managed" ??

Title: Plot
Post by: John on December 12, 2006, 10:02

Self managed means the plotholders have an association that manages the site. This can be very good. Pop down to your sites when there are people on there and talk to them - you will pick up info re soil, vandals etc.

I've got near to 1/16th of an acre and this is more than enough to be self sufficient in veg for a family of 4.  a 32nd is a fair amount of work.

Title: Plot
Post by: DD. on December 12, 2006, 11:58

Managed to work out that I've got about 1/5th acre (forgetting what comes after the decimal point 1 acre = 4046 sq m or 4840 sq yds).

Be interesting to know what Muntjac's estate runs to. (Just the one in your back garden that is!)

Title: Plot
Post by: muntjac on December 12, 2006, 12:12

ok .i have 4 plots. and ui guess 3/4 of one in my actual back garden.
 so the plot
down one side its ( guess werk here ) 45 yds on the right hand run ( see photos) .on the back its 30 yrds thats nearest to the other houses and thenblack shed then coming down the left hand side its maybe 55yds and in front of the house edge is 40yds .so its .......

45yds x 30yds x 55yds x 40 yds i guess i could be up or down a bit , if you the plots are one rod as they usually are the i have about 4 and a half rods on the plot as one is shaved off and made up from the rectangle ..

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/allotment2.jpg)

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/myallotments.jpg)

in fotos 3 and the last one you can see all the plot i now rent

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/plot319thjune.jpg)


(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/plot19thjune.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/allotment1.jpg)

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/allotment4.jpg)

Title: Plot
Post by: shaun on December 12, 2006, 22:00

are you hiding something in your greenhouse mate  :wink:
great plots though.

Title: Plot
Post by: muntjac on December 12, 2006, 22:06

i put my peppers and chillies in there mate it gets maximum sun all day . i have   couple more in the divison part of my garden along with jades litle plot and her pets ( chickens rabbits ferreets dogs that i grow toms n cucs etc in .( aquired from freecycle  )my home workshop . in winter i use one for keeping plants in etc starting seeds off and the other i fill with fire wood along with my back shed and my utilities shed i keep all the vegetable garden fenced off completly .i was brought to tears when the dogs etc got into my garden and wrecked it one a day when i was out .

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 13, 2006, 06:56

well I phoned yesterday and the only plot they had on the site I wanted were full of 5 foot high brambles, the council guy said don't bother with them. They do have funding for another 10 new plots which are do to be "ready" at the end of Feb... not quite sure what they mean by "ready". But I am going to pop along to the self managed site at the weekend, as I know they have plots available. I'll decide when I get there what size plot to go for, as I cannot imagine it in my tiny little mind..

Title: Plot
Post by: DD. on December 13, 2006, 08:34

Quote from: "muntjac"

45yds x 30yds x 55yds x 40 yds i guess i could be up or down a bit

I make that........er........ quite a lot.

Averaging the sides & top/bottom out to, say, 50yds x 35yds = 1750 sq yards = over 1/3 acre!

Title: Plot
Post by: muntjac on December 13, 2006, 11:08

and i have just dug most of that by blooming hand  :cry:

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 18, 2006, 09:11

application form going in today... I could get 1 right now, but they all have 5 foot hight brambles in there.. Had a wander down to one of the sites and there are several free, but they are deep grass. I wouldn't know where to start with a plot that is full of grass. Fingers crossed I get one that isn't too over grown. There could be 10 new plots created in Feb, but dunno if I can wait that long.. itching to get started over the Christmas period :D

Title: Plot
Post by: noshed on December 18, 2006, 21:34

Grass means it's fertile - a splash of glyphosate and bob's yer uncle. Read John's article about clearing your plot on this site. It may help you decide

Title: Plot
Post by: Sadgit on December 19, 2006, 06:28

well I never... must admit and I hate to say it, but I am a chemical man in these circumstances due to lack of time on my behalf :)

Chemical Gardeners

Spray the plot with Roundup or suchlike, wait for the weeds to die and then rotovate. Sounds pretty simple, certainly less effort but you need to trust the chemical companies information and do not mind growing food on the soil you just sprayed with complex chemicals.

Title: Plot
Post by: muntjac on December 19, 2006, 08:28

mow it for now dont be wasting spray on it till it warms up a bit and the stuff is growing  :wink: