jon0881 Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hi, Do any of you lot have allotments from the council or other that you use for growing veg etc? I always thought it would be expensive to rent, expensive to buy the seeds and expensive too look after but ive had a good read on the net and it seems thats not the case. There are a load of 'getting started' reasources out there but i would like to know just how much time people have to invest in them to get some results. I think i will put my name down for one but i dont want to show up as a laughing stock trying to plant strawberrys in January Cant wait to tuck into my own pots, carrots, parsnips etc with some nice frsh game. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi, Do any of you lot have allotments from the council or other that you use for growing veg etc? I always thought it would be expensive to rent, expensive to buy the seeds and expensive too look after but ive had a good read on the net and it seems thats not the case. There are a load of 'getting started' reasources out there but i would like to know just how much time people have to invest in them to get some results. I think i will put my name down for one but i dont want to show up as a laughing stock trying to plant strawberrys in January Cant wait to tuck into my own pots, carrots, parsnips etc with some nice frsh game. Jon I did start one but once the shooting bug kicked in i have forgot all about it , i have got a mate cuming down next week to plough it up and i might even invest in some chickens here is a write up i use to do on it http://newplot.blogspot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Sam Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Are you allowed to fence off the plot and put rabbits on it? Or is that considered un-sporting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 I used to have one and you need a minimum of a day a week on it, slightly less from Oct-Jan. I have been trying to get one again but there is a waiting list(dead man`s shoes !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminer Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi, Do any of you lot have allotments from the council or other that you use for growing veg etc? I always thought it would be expensive to rent, expensive to buy the seeds and expensive too look after but ive had a good read on the net and it seems thats not the case. There are a load of 'getting started' reasources out there but i would like to know just how much time people have to invest in them to get some results. I think i will put my name down for one but i dont want to show up as a laughing stock trying to plant strawberrys in January Cant wait to tuck into my own pots, carrots, parsnips etc with some nice frsh game. Jon Jon, i have had one for about 4 years now, and once you have got it up together its not that hard to keep on top of. The good side is it keeps me out of the house away from the wife and 2 daughters, (3 females in one house argggghh). we have allotment barbecues in the summer and i have Tv, cooker and stereo, also my water butts contain a nice supply of cool cider. also i have 2 very nice young Polish girls who share the allotment next to me. how they jumped the 12mth waiting list i do not know.(actually i can probably guess) So go and get your name down you may be as lucky as me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandersj89 Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 I have one, well 2 actually, had them about 5 years now, I used to do a blog, you can see it here but have stopped updating it: http://sandersj89allotment.blogspot.com/ Time required can vary alot during the year, at the moment not a lot going on other than digging parsnips, cutting cabbage and kale for eating. Things start to speed up in the spring and I do spend a lot of time in the greenhouse. If you want a good site google Allotments 4 all. A very very good gardening forum. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipper Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Verminer. Is that a picture of the two polish girls walking down the allotment in your aviator. Im seriously thinking of growing some veg and getting a few chickens at the top of my garden. I could also do with having two nice polish girls locken in the shed, ( just to keep an eye on the chickens and do a bit of weeding) Kipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminer Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Verminer. Is that a picture of the two polish girls walking down the allotment in your aviator. Im seriously thinking of growing some veg and getting a few chickens at the top of my garden. I could also do with having two nice polish girls locken in the shed, ( just to keep an eye on the chickens and do a bit of weeding) Kipper Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 i have a alotment its onley got sharmas onit atmo my old one had vegon it but the hens escaped and eat it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon0881 Posted January 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Thanks for all the advice, the guy is calling me back tonight about them. I guess there is a waiting list. For someone who just wants a bit of veg/salad like pots, parsnips, beans, carrots etc how much time per month on average would you spend there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandersj89 Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Thanks for all the advice, the guy is calling me back tonight about them. I guess there is a waiting list. For someone who just wants a bit of veg/salad like pots, parsnips, beans, carrots etc how much time per month on average would you spend there? if you average it out over the year then 2 days a month, but in the spring summer you will need twice that at least, depending on the size of the plot, the state it is when you take it on. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Someone I know is into her third or fourth year on an allottment plot that had been vacant for a long while. It's a steep learning curve, and the boys are right that it takes at least a day a week to maintian it over most of the year. Well worth it though. Best things to grow - chard (tastes fantastic, you can cut and come again, and you can grow different coloured varieties that look amazing when the light filters through them) and carrots (the most carroty-tasting carrots you'll ever taste!). Regards, LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryhawk Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Had one for years. £7 a year Well worth the time and effort and it's good to get the kids envolved. They see that veg and meat don't come shrink wrapped from the supermarkets. You can't beat toms straight off the vine, a good batch of runner bean chutney and new spuds with salad on a summers evening. All grown by yourself, zero food miles and you know that it's not handled by every Tom, **** and Harry at the grocery section!!!!!!! Can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Magic Chard http://www.realseeds.co.uk/chard.html Brilliant! LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon0881 Posted January 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 im looking forward to it. The coucil ones are £7.60 a year but the ones im after are society run, although they are listed on the council website. I cant think they will be much more. There is an abolute bucket of info on it on the net and the seeds are cheap as owt. Cant wait to get my lad involved. Ive roped a mate into it so it halves the work. ....bet there is a 2 year wait for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 I am in the opposite corner, I dont like gardening, but own an acre ans a quarter, I offered someone a free allotment he came looked over the feild and said its too much work to start it all up from grass, even when I offered the tractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darebear Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 (edited) my parents have had an allotment for a few years (to get in some practice being self-sufficient for when them emmigrate to Crete later this year). they put a LOT of time and effort into it, and have grown every vegetable imaginable. quite a few fruits too! there is nothing better than home grown veg. it actually has some taste! Edited January 13, 2008 by darebear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon0881 Posted January 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 2 year waiting list on my local so i will have to look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 2 year waiting list on my local so i will have to look elsewhere. you can use mine whilst you wait :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon0881 Posted January 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 2 year waiting list on my local so i will have to look elsewhere. you can use mine whilst you wait :unsure: Its a bit of a trek though isnt it...... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleye Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 ive got one £7 a year what we did when it got to much we put most of it to fruit gooseberries raspberries red/black currants rhubarb blackberries strawberries not so labour intensive and we get about 20 gallons of wine a year and just look at the price of fruit in the shops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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