[gowing238]

To be honest, im pondering over having set out beds, or just having the whole plot available and just using walking planks! Am i strict enough not to walk without a plank!?

[bigben]

I have just taken over an allotment and have very little wood so have opted for huge beds that I plan to use a plank to walk on. I have noticed I have much more room to grow stuff - my last allotment ended up at least one third path. The only reason I have beds at all is the allotment is on a slope so I need to bank it. It will be interesting to see if I end up cheating a walking without a plank.

[HugglescoteGrower]

I have thought long and hard about having set beds, I came down on the yes side purely so that I can manage rotation better.

All the wise old owls on our allotments say don't bother, but they can all tell you precisely where spuds have been planted for each of the last twenty years.

I can't remember exactly where my runner beans were last year.

[noshed]

People on our site use a variety of approaches - dig the whole lot up every year, wide beds, narrow beds etc. A lot of people dig over everything then use straw from our manure delivery to make temporary narrow paths, which they can dig in later.
I have 4' wide beds divided by grass paths and black textile paths. That seems to work fine. I try not to tread on the beds but sometimes do...