[Madame Cholet]

i'm going to look at a new allotment tomorrow i can have 10 or 15 poles only 50p per pole my instinct is to go for 15 and a have a couple of apple trees which is allowed i also like artihokes which take up space. i like the bed system which stops me having to do lots of digging.

any thoughts please

[lmpd]

From personal experience, I would say, grab as much as you can. You will be surprised how quickly it will fill up, however much you get, you will still be wanting a bit more to fulfill some project or other in the future!!!

[gavinjconway]

get the lot!!! 50p per pole seems rather cheap.. go for it..

[Nikkithefoot]

I would take the largest I could, but only what I could manage. Could you have a smaller plot with the option to increase which is the best of both worlds?
Permanent plants will obviously take up room from the annual crops so you may indeed need the bigger plot.

[Comfortably Numb]

15 poles is great, but only if you really have the amount of time to devote to it.

If you have any doubts about whether you could cope with it, then go for just 10 poles 

Nice to have the offer though, and very cheap as well 

[brightgirls]

Can I ask a very silly question.. what is "a pole"?  what size is that please?

[sunshineband]

A pole is 30 square yards

Technically I think it is actually 30.25 but 30 is near enough in terms of allotment measures 

[Madame Cholet]

a pole is 5.5yards. there are 6 new allotments and 3 have gone in a week so really need to decide now the extra land will be on the end. the lady wants me to pay and sign on the spot.

i think i'm going to go for the large one Ive been working one day a week at a community
allotment so i'm used to the work.

i'm self employed and work is hard to find at the moment growing food will help the budget and fill the time.

also a friend has just offered me some wood chippings which will be great for the paths.

[JaK]

I agree that you should go for the larger one and fill the extra space with fruit. Wishing you the best of luck with your new plot. 

[Salmo]

Check the rent before you sign. 50p a pole is stupidly cheap. I would expect it to be nearer £5 a pole i.e. £50 for a 10 pole plot.

[gavinjconway]

I pay £34 for my full plot... I assume 10 pole is a normal full plot so If I'm right yours is a steal at £5 ..

[bazh]

Grab as much as you can by the time you've put things like a shed if allowed, compost bins a comfrey bed, fruit like raspberries or current bushes you'll soon be wishing you'd gone for the bigger space.

Plot costs vary all over the country mine is run my the parish council it's 25m x 10m and costs just £18 a year with no water rates, where as a mate pays triple that across town for a full plot which is run by the town council. Just count yourself lucky yours is cheap.

[bigben]

I am currently working one and half 10 pole plots and find I can use the space fairly easily but it does involve a fair bit of work. I am employed thru the week so weekends become very busy at certain times of the year!

[Malturn]

GRAB IT!!!

My plot is 420 sq yards and costs £38 per year including water rates.

Malcolm

[Madame Cholet]

thanks for your help.

it cost me 7.50 for 15 poles and 3.00 for a key its owned by a charity and there is a tap for cans only but i'll get a shed and butts.

going to fill the extra 5 poles with 2 apples a pear 2 hazel nuts and some raspberries and rhubarb i think.  going to under seed the trees with a woodland grass and flower mix and cut it when the flowers have seeded in the autumn.

the comfrey sounds good too and green manure.

i think i'm going to divide the rest into 4' beds with wood chip paths and work on one bed a time like a potager effect.

i feel really lucky its 15mins on my bicycle and the view across the river is superb.I met a lovely old gentle man who had been there for 50 years i think I won't have any problem. finding time to go. I think I won't want to leave.