Allotments - how much time do you put in?

[hamster]

Oops, somehow managed to forget to come back and check this thread... Thanks for all the encouragement and help though.

65 on the list sounds quite a lot, but if it's a council run site it may be that they only reassign plots once a year when people fail to renew. Have a look at the site...if lots of plot seem unused chances are that list will be halved by the end of may.

Ah, that's possible. Hadn't thought of that.

Hi,

I live in Lower Earley, just near Wokingham, when I asked Wokingham District Council for an allotment, they refused to even put me on the list. Reading Bourough Council were much more helpful, and I am now on a waiting list for an allotment in Earley.

P.S I might be interested in sharing?!? maybe?

Oh, how annoying. Why wouldn't they put you on the list? Am all worried now. Thanks for the tentative offer of sharing. I can't really say yet, but I shall have a think about all this again when I get settled and maybe PM you or something.

[Helsbells]

Hey,
Yeah thats a good idea, I say it tentatively because on the one hand I want as much growing space as I can get, and on the other I just might not be able to manage it once I have it.
I will let you know. But I would recommend trying to get on as many waiting lists as possible if you can, maybe try getting on the list for whiteknights, or ever caversham if you dont mind travelling.

[hamster]

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't drive, so I'm not sure how feasible it is to go too far from Wokingham. Anyway, I'll let you know in a few months. I've still got to convince the bf anyway...

[gunners71uk]

4 hours winter approx
6 hours spring approx
8 hours summer approx
dave

[yugogypsy]

Well----as we have 3 garden plots that each equal the size of a city allotment, I'd have to say we spend an hour a day watering when it doesn't rain , a couple hours pulling weeds and clipping grass that grows between the beds (good donkey treats) and an hour just puttering around, putting in stakes or strings for things that are too tall or making a string trellis for the peas.

Fencing took several 8 hour days.

So I guess you'd have to say about 4-8 hours, depending on what needs doing.


Lois

[gunners71uk]

sounds about same as me yugo

[4 Candles]

I'm a bit new so I must ask;

Are we all completely organic here or is it possible to own up to the use of Roundup for clearing an overgrown allotment?

The answer to this this question will enable me to form an answer to the question of how long I spend at my plot!

Cheers
Duncan

[Muddypause]

Are we all completely organic here...?

We're "-ish" here.

Some of us aspire to it
Some of us are moving in that direction
Some of us can put up a jolly good argument in it's favour

But we are not completely

[4 Candles]

We're "-ish" here.

That's what I wanted to hear!

I've no intention of using anything other than organic methods once I've destroyed every bit of bindweed on my plots!

I go there pretty well every day if only for 20 minutes or so and then a good 2-3 hours one day at the weekend.

That seems enough to really keep on top of things.

Duncan

[Mare Owner]

Are we all completely organic here or is it possible to own up to the use of Roundup for clearing an overgrown allotment?

We do still occasionally use round-up here too, in some times/places a very effective weed killer is the best way to go for us.

For time for me, I am just starting a plot so don't have a normal/weekly or daily amount of time. Getting the sod down and then planting some took a bit of time, but so far no weeds yet to pull, so not much time with upkeep yet.

[Greenie]

This isn't specifically to/for Hellsbells. It's just that I'm new, living a long way away and I'd like to feel that I'm in touch with like minded people . . . I am, right?

Anyway, here I am in the Pacific NW: I'm on Orcas Is, WA to be precise. Just moved here (5Mar), after driving from Portland, Maine.

As soon as I can, and find out how-to, I'll include some photos of my petite- but-vertical garden. I've never done it this way before. Sure, for runner beans but not tomatoes and courgettes. Speaking of toms, I'm trying another new thing for them: taking off most of the leaves. Let me know if anyone's interested and I'll keep you posted.

Greenie

[Christine]

Re: bindweed
I've tried everything else and now it's Roundup - just for that, though, as dandelions and docks are just free fertiliser that hasn't got into a water tub yet! I've cut out the top and bottom of a large old fabric conditioner container so that I can confine the spray to the bindweed.
Do it last thing and be careful not to walk around or handle other plants before you leave!