One of my most asked questions is what is an allotment plot? I didn’t actually realise how unique an allotment plot was to Britain before I started sharing mine online. So I thought I would do a little post explaining exactly what it is and where they came from.
WHAT IS AN ALLOTMENT PLOT?
An allotment plot is a plot of land you rent from the local council or from a private landowner on which you can grow your own food. However, the rules are fairly flexible and you can now grow flowers, vegetables or even just create a second garden to use and enjoy. Different allotment plots have different rules. Allotments are communal places, so you rent your plot and then share facilities such as fertiliser, toilets (if you’re lucky enough to have them) and water use.
HOW MUCH DO ALLOTMENTS COST?
Allotments are not expensive. For my London allotment plot of 135 square metres, I pay about £47 a year. This includes the rent of the land as well as access to water. The problem with allotment plots is the long waiting lists as demand often outnumbers supply!
However, the amount you will spend on maintaining your allotment really depends on your own financial ability. I try to be as thrifty as I can, using whatever I find in skips to create raised beds and sowing as much as I can from seed.
WHAT ARE THE RULES OF ALLOTMENTS?
Different sites have different rules to abide by. Usually, there will be a cultivation rule. There will be an expectation for your to keep your plot under control, removing weeds and keeping it cultivated throughout the year. My site allotment small fruit trees and sheds, but nothing bigger than 10ft by 8ft. Obviously fly tipping is not allowed and fires are only permitted from October to February.
There will often be yearly inspections to ensure plots are being maintained and that people are keeping their allotment plots tidy.
HOW BIG ARE ALLOTMENT PLOTS?
Allotment’s are traditionally measured in rods, an old measurement dating back to Anglo-Saxon times! 10 poles is the most traditional allotment size, which equates to about 250 square metres. However, in recent years, councils have started to split larger plots up. My plot is 135 square metres, but there are plots as small as 35 square metres and as large as 250 square metres on my site. This is because demand is outnumbering supply and also because people do not have as much time to tend to their plots and are more interested in a smaller size to maintain.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO VISIT YOUR ALLOTMENT PLOT?
This varies depending on the state of your plot as well as what you are intending to grow. One of my neighbours covers his entire plot in tarpaulin, cuts hole in the spring and plants in potatoes. He doesn’t come back until the potatoes are ready to harvest!
If you are growing more traditional vegetables in raised beds, I think twice a week is sufficient. During heatwaves, more may be advisable for weeding and watering.
HOW DO I GET AN ALLOTMENT?
You need to contact your local council and fill out a form to request one. They will put you on the waiting list. Waiting lists can be really long, I’m talking years! Be flexible with your location and decide early on if you are willing to take on a bit of a jungle or not!
In the meantime, start growing with the space you’ve got! Even if it’s just a balcony or windowsill, there is always something you can grow. I’m growing a courtyard vegetable garden this year just outside my kitchen door, in a tiny space and mainly in pots. So do check out my progress if you are looking for ideas for vertical growing!
