[makedoandmend]

Folks,

Happy 2012 to you all!

Just wondering if I could stimulate a discussion on the most beneficial layout and orientation for a rectangular 'standard' allotment plot?

I would welcome people's thoughts and experiences. Perhaps it would be useful to add that the plot in my case may have the following 'restrictions'.

Shed
Greenhouse
Poultry pen
fences / hedges often 6 ft high.

Thanks

Make do.

[savbo]

Not exactly sure what you're asking here Makedo - are you choosing a plot from a number of options or creating a new one somewhere?

BUT if we're looking at a roughly 30m x 10m plot (rather than anything square or very elongated), I think East-west gives you a longer exposure to the sun, provided your southern boundary isn't a 6' fence. But this may just be an impression I have because our first plot was a heavily shaded N-S one and we now have an exposed E-W one...

sav

[makedoandmend]

Sav,

If the option of different alignments comes on offer I'm hoping to chose the most appropriate, based on a number of factors, layout being one of them.

I was using the same logic you have applied, the southern boundary being the decider. I'm hoping to put shed, compost water butts etc on the north side to minimise shade on the plot.

The irradiance plots that are used for solar energy indicate maximum solar gains (at UK lattitudes) from a direction just to the east of south. So E-W may be better, but I'm open to experiences of others.

Make do.

[Yorkie]

It is generally advised to grow in rows which are N-S to maximise exposure to sun.

How they are laid out within the plot is really of less relevance.

[savbo]

Makedo, are you thinking of using a bed system? If so, an E-W plot lends itself to N-S beds which usually means E-W rows, which as Yorkie says are against the usual recommendation...at least that's what we've ended up with! Hmmm, should I be thinking of digging up all our beds and aligning them the other way? That would be a project for the next couple of months!

nah
 

[bazh]

As Yorkie says it's (generally) advised to grow in rows N-S to maximise exposure to sunlight, as with all my site my plot is orientated N-S 30x10metres most of the old boys have a path down the centre and grow in rows E-W and produce some excellent veg so I don't think it really matters tbh, I grow in beds or blocks as you would with raised beds but without raising them, so the orientation goes totally out the window the only exception are my raspberry canes which are N-S but I am the only person on my site of 30 plots who does this.

I wouldn't give it to much thought if I was you we can over complicate things at times, the only thing I'd watch out for are large fences, trees etc on the south and west facing boundaries that will caste a lot of shade.

[sunshineband]

Some of my beds are N-S and some are E-W and I can't say I have noticed any difference in the way crops grow to be honest.

More to the point I feel are the potential heights of the boundaries you mention, which may cast shade on your plot for part of each day.

Less shade is good

[savbo]

at some times of year there can be more than an hour of difference in the amount of sunshine we get now compared to our old plot... must make a difference

[sunshineband]

at some times of year there can be more than an hour of difference in the amount of sunshine we get now compared to our old plot... must make a difference

Do you mean this is linked to the direction beds go in?

[savbo]

at some times of year there can be more than an hour of difference in the amount of sunshine we get now compared to our old plot... must make a difference

Do you mean this is linked to the direction beds go in?

Sorry I should have been more explicit - I was agreeing with  sunshineband's and bazh's comments about trees and boundaries being a bigger factor to consider than alignment. I should have used the quote button...