[CornishInDevon]

Hi all,
Typically after waiting years for an allotment. At 16wks pregnant I’m offered one.
Luckily it’s only a 5 min walk from house.
I’ve scoped the half plot out. It’s sloped and then levels out at bottom by countryside hedge. And is a blank canvas, only one possible raspberry cane in the grass.
The bottom gets afternoon shade. Which will be great next yr will a baby. I just think it’ll be tricky getting down the narrow grassy path with a pushchair.

Do I take the plot I’m offered and ask to get first refusal on another plot which a couple of other allotment holders think is abandoned. But wasn’t strimmed clear by the council. Which would be an easier access plot. With the benefit of a glasses green house frame & shed. Already on site & I prefer. Although could be vandalised by thrown stuff.

Or accept what I’ve been offered. Which would eat into limited baby fund as I’d need a shelter of some kind from the sun and showers. And is a total blank canvas.

Been after an allotment ever since I moved from the countryside (10 yr ago) Where I use to grow some of my own.

Any tips and advice on starting an allotment when pregnant. Would be starting from scratch as ex (being a professional gardener kept the tools) Gratefully received.

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

I'm going to move your post across to the GYO Board, so more people see it there 

[snowdrops]

Hi there, welcome to the site. Congratulations on your pregnancy. A bit of a difficult one to answer as only you know how you feel. But having had 2 babies myself I don’t think I could have managed an allotment at the time without substantial help. Particularly if it needed clearing etc & funds were limited as they inevitably are with a baby on the way. A different matter if you have help with either plot or baby (when they arrive). I understand the thought that it would be a nice place to go with baby in an afternoon. Reality probably is that unless you fence a safe area for baby & get a chilled relaxed baby you might find it difficult to actually do any gardening with baby in tow. I had an established  vegetable patch at home with my first born & it was really difficult to stay on top of it. As soon as I got my hands dirty tge baby needed seeing too etc. Don’t want to put you off as you’ve wanted this for so long but sometimes something has to give. Sorry I’ve probably just made your decision harder

[maddave]

Being a man, it's not my place to say what you should or shouldn't do, or how you will feel  , but when I got my plot, my wife was 6 months pregnant.  There was no way she could have helped manage the plot before or once our son was born, both physically and mentally.  Initially she could hardly walk for a few weeks, (big baby! ahem!), and then the lack of proper sleep meant she had little motivation to do anything major.  After about a year she happily helped come and do some raking and hoeing with the baby in a carrier/sling and this was fine, but she couldn't bend down.  At one point I put a small plastic sand pit in the allotment which kept my son busy whilst I'd do stuff, but if the weather was too cold/too hot/too wet, then it was difficult to stay on site for very long with him. 

I'm not saying it's impossible to do and you may find it works out great.  I can't tell if this is your first child, but from mine and my wife's experiences our thoughts on what parenting would be like to the reality were very different.  People say it's a shock, but you dont believe it until it happens!!  It may seem like a lovely experience digging the plot whilst your child chills for a few hours playing with the snails, but after a few minutes of them sitting in dirt, eating the soil, wondering off down the roads, the novelty wears thin!! 

However, on a positive note, our children love our allotment.  Once my son got a bit older he would come and help water and then pick the soft fruit, look for spuds, pick courgettes etc.  My second child is now 3 and she has helped plant all my veg this year and all the seeds.  They get so much out of it and they've learnt loads and have no weird eating habits.  All veg is eaten as they've seen it growing, helped to nurture it and pick it, so it's exciting!  My son's favorite food is sprouts and he even asked for them for his special birthday dinner!! I couldn't get rid of my plot as the kids get so much out of it and that brings enjoyment to us.

If you do take it on, I'd suggest covering it in weed plastic to make it as maintenance free as possible. Grow stuff through that and just start small.  Do a bit here and there and look at the long term goal rather than the trying to do everything at once and being overwhelmed.  I've had my plot 6 years and it's only been this year that I've managed to get it to the point that I'm pretty happy with it. 

Good luck!!

[snowdrops]

That’s a great answer maddave 

[Ema]

Double congratulations on the baby and plot.

I think if you manage your expectations then you will be just fine!

Personally I would pick the shady allotment, I cant garden past 11am at the moment its just too hot!
If you feel the shed and greenhouse would be a real asset to you and you want a sunny plot for maximum production and dont mind heat then there is no harm in calling the council and enquiring.

I would also ecco the investment of buying enough weed membrane to cover at least half your plot! Or if you really cant afford this then the thick carboard boxes bikes come in are a great weed suppresser.

Set yourself some small targets this year. like covering 1/2 the plot, mowing 1/4 and (an area to sit on), digging and planting another 1/4.

Then think about how much time you really have, how long does digging a 1m2 area take you? Be mindful that you will able to dig with the recent rain, but after a few weeks of dry weather the ground will bake into a stone. I would probably only dig 1m2 in a day or else I ruin my back, particularly if its very weedy or compacted.

If you will be doing all the had work yourself, what do you want to achieve this year? a herb garden, a few leeks, cabbages and salad would be my suggestion. But you might have other favourites your hoping to grow.
I would leave a strawberry bed to autumn when some of your neighbours may give you their runners.

Dont go to a garden centre and buy seedlings that you dont have space for would be my money saving suggestion it also just makes you stressed to work harder than you can.

Let us know how you get on