[Stratts]

I'm drawing up a plan for my lotty ready for next year and am not sure how big to do each plot based on the 4 year rotation?

I have a final workable area of 80ft long x 12ft wide after taking the permanent beds out and compost areas, etc.

Need sizes for tates, legumes, barassicas, onions and roots and was gonna infill any gaps I find with the misc stuff as has already been suggested.

If I just did 4 equal plots 20ft x 12ft would that be enough in each area to grow stuff for a family of 4.  It would certainly make measuring and rotation easier for me as a noob!

And how many lb's of tates could I expect to get from that size area.  Thinking of trying 3 or 4 different types if possible,

Cheers

[sunshineband]

Bearing in mind that you will rotate round every year, it is helpful if the beds are the same size tbh

and it is hard to say about the weight of potatoes -- maincrop come up much heavier in yield than earlies, for example.

But that space should be ample for a worthwhile crop 

[TerryB]

enough in each area to grow stuff for a family of 4. 

This would depend on what you grow.
ie 2x10ft would produce enough runner beans but not enough pea's.

I think you could hope for about 60% of your families veg needs for a year but this would mean a lot of work.

Storage of your crop is also very important.
Last year we lost a lot of potatos and onions to the early frost because we stored them on site.

[AnneB]

Think you should give some thought to access for weeding, watering and harvest etc.  If your plots are 12' across, then you are going to have to walk on them to get to your crops.  Generally this is to be avoided if possible. 

You should either consider paths in the middle or smaller raised beds.

I know this eats into growing land, but in the long run the soil is better if you don't have to trample on it.  It is why we chose to go down the raised bed route, the length of each bed being the same as one standard used scaffolding plank (£2 each from scaffolding company) and approx 4' across, which I can just about reach into the middle with - have small arms (!), you might be able to manage slightly wider.

Also don't make the beds too long, or you will short cut across rather than walking round, which defeats the object of the raised beds.

Good luck anyway.  Our plot was a wilderness of sycamore trees, old carpet, horsetail etc last September, and we are now picking our first potatoes, strawberries, peas and broad beans.

[Stratts]

Thanks for the advice guys appreciate it.  Never thought about access too much as all the other plots use a path down the side and walk between the crops to weed, etc.

I thought I was being ambitious about feeding the family but as long as I provide the staples the other bits can be bought,

Cheers

[sunshineband]

It is good to be ambitious here --- keep the ground working and you will be surprised at the amount you will have. 

Storing/preserving needs planning though, to avoid wastage, and sometimes you might need to start some veg in modules, so that they can go straight out as soon as ground becomes available from a previous harvest. 

[LilacSandy]

I have 20 pole (rods) which I work on my own, OH is not interested at all, hard work but great fun (mostly).  I have fixed paths on either side and one down the middle and then use temporary paths each year which I dig up at the end of the season.  This allows me to lengthen or shorten the plots as required. 

This year I am only growing early and mid season potatoes as I cannot tast the difference with main crop and supermarket, and they are only £2 a bag.  However I use the bigest bed for my beans and peas, then root veg.

I also have a couple of large raised beds for Strawberries etc., so I have the best of both worlds.