DOWNSIDES OF AN ALLOTMENT PLOT

Allotment plots are fantastic places where you can grow a variety of different fruit and vegetables and flowers. They are community based places and it can be great to share your hobby of growing with other like minded people. But, there are definitely downsides of an allotment plot.

I’ve had my allotment plot for 5 years and over that time I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. Sometimes it’s simply because they’ve taken on more than they can chew or maybe because their personal circumstances have changed and they are unable to commit to the work required. However, sometimes I think people don’t quite understand what goes into keeping a productive allotment plot. And also, the downsides of an allotment plot.

That’s why I’ve tried to be as honest as I can about allotment life, here on the blog and also across my social media platforms. I want to show the reality of allotment plots and prepare people as best as I can, so that they can make a good choice on whether or not it is for them! I do this by focussing on the downsides of an allotment plot as well as the good sides!

The truth is, an allotment plot might not be right for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own food and flowers, it just means that this particular way of doing it doesn’t work for you. That’s ok! It doesn’t make you a failure or a bad gardener. Allotments are more than just a patch of land to grow on, they come with rules and regulations that might not work for you.

So, hopefully by sharing some of the downsides of an allotment plot, you’ll be able to make a better decision on whether getting one is right for you.

THE DOWNSIDES OF AN ALLOTMENT PLOT

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Allotment plots are run by local councils or private individuals. You rent a patch of land from them on which you can grow fruit and vegetables and flowers. However, these plots come with rules and regulations.

Each allotment plot will come with it’s own rules that you will be required to follow if you don’t want to be kicked off! Sometimes, these rules will make it hard for you to be able to grow what you want to, and that can be a huge downside of an allotment plot.

On my site, we have restrictions on how big structures such as sheds can be. We are also asked to keep colours fairly neutral so as not to create eye soars for our neighbours, whose houses overlook the site. Fires can be made between the months of October and February only and trees need to be small and well cooked after so as not to become overgrown and dangerous.

The rules on your allotment site might be different and you should definitely read them through properly so as not to break them.

All allotments sites will require a level of cultivation. On our site, that means that 75 per cent of your plot needs to be well maintained at all times. However, that can include being covered with thick groundsheets. The reason for this is to stop weeds from spreading onto other peoples plots and of course, to make sure you are using the plot efficiently and not using it as a rubbish tip! (Which some people do!)

If you break the rules you will be given written warnings. If you still continue to break them, your tenancy will be terminated and you’ll lose the plot!

THE DISTANCE

One of the biggest downsides of an allotment plot, is the distance it is from your home. Unless you are really lucky, the chances are your allotment plot will be a little way away from your home. You may even need to drive to it. This can be a huge downside for many reasons.

Firstly, it can be difficult to keep finding the motivation and time to trek to your plot regularly. It’s very easy to nip out to your back garden every day, but slightly harder to find the motivation to trek to the plot, especially if the weather isn’t great.

Also not being able to nip out to your plot throughout the day can make it difficult to protect crops from the dreaded pests! Spring time is particularly problematic as this is when you are likely to have the most new, vulnerable crops outside. It’s also the time when the slugs and snails are most active. A slug can munch its way through an entire crop of freshly planted cabbages in no time!

NO LIGHTS

Carrying on from the last point, another downside of allotment plots is the lack of lighting there. That means you are quite restricted on the times you can go down there, especially in the autumn time when it gets darker earlier.

There are lots of jobs to be doing in the autumn time at an allotment plot, but if you can only get down there after work, you may find the light slipping away before you can really get started.

In the springtime, it’s a good idea to go out to your crops at nighttime to collect all the slugs off of the plants (this is when they like to strike!). However, this is difficult to do at all allotment plot with the lack of light and if your site is quite a distance from you.

THEY ARE HARD WORK

All gardens require a level of hard work and continuous commitment. But allotment plots come with the added pressure of being kicked off if you fail to do the work required. If you’re not prepared for this reality, then this can be one of the downsides of an allotment plot.

You may find that your new allotment plot is very overgrown when you first take it on. This is not unusual and I would urge you to take it on if you feel an allotment plot is for you, because it can be the most rewarding thing you do! But, it will require a lot of hard, physical work and that can definitely be a downside of an allotment plot.

Allotment plots are places that require continuous hard work in order to stay productive and under control. You won’t be able to just plant something out, weed and then leave it for 3 weeks over the spring. It will become overgrown in no time. New crops will need watering, protecting, feeding and supporting on regular basis.

Make sure you are able to take on the work required before taking on an allotment plot.

NEIGHBOURS

I’m lucky that I now have fantastically supportive neighbours at my allotment site who are friendly, helpful and respectful. However, that hasn’t always been the case. When I first took on my allotment, there were a few unfriendly faces I had to contend with and I would find myself actively avoiding them every time I went down there.

Allotments are communities and in every community, there will be people you click with and people you don’t. I’ve heard lots of stories of people giving up their plots because they just didn’t get on with neighbours.

So, my advice would be to stay polite, stay respectful of others and try not to let negative people bring you down. Thats easier said than done. I found myself avoiding the allotment whenever I knew people would be there who I didn’t get on with. Thankfully, they have all given up their plots and moved on!

It’s something to bare in mind if you are thinking of getting an allotment plot.

THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE

If you are looking to get an allotment plot because you think it will be a great money saving way of growing your own food, your are mistaken!

Of course, allotments can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. There are plenty of ways to save money at an allotment. Second hand tools and sheds, growing from seed, swapping plants and produce with neighbours, making your own compost… However, I think a lot of people will admit that they end up spending more money on their allotments than they had intended.

Sometimes, you have to buy plug plants because your seedlings just don’t germinate. Sometimes, second hand tools just don’t cut it. And of course, if you are doing no dig on your allotment plot, don’t underestimate the enormous amount of compost you’ll need to purchase to get it going!

Making your own compost will definitely save you money, but this will take time and you’ll need a huge volume of it in order to fill and mulch all of your beds.

The cost of renting an allotment plot can be higher in cities like London. I am in South London and both my plots cost just over £100 for the year.

BREAK INS

Security is definitely something to think about when taking on an allotment plot. Allotments will be surrounded by iron fences and enclosed with padlocked gates, but that doesn’t always stop thieves from breaking in and stealing your things.

So many sheds on my site have been broken into over the years with tools stolen. Sometimes crops are taken from other peoples plots too. I’ve had giant pumpkins stolen before, one of them was being grown by my 6 year old son, and that was pretty devastating.

There are things you can do to combat this. You could get yourself a security or wildlife camera or an automatic light to deter people. Or you can make sure you don’t keep valuable tools on your plot. This will require you remembering to bring them down every time you go though, which can be difficult.

It’s something to keep in mind when taking on an allotment plot!

THE CROPS WONT GROW

Sometimes, one of the biggest downsides of having an allotment plot is that nothing will grow on it! This might not even be your fault. It could be caused by forces out of your control such as bad weather or an influx of pests. Even so, there is something incredibly disheartening about working so hard on your allotment plot only to have nothing grow successfully!

It can be even harder to see neighbouring plots thriving right next door and you can end up feeling like a failure.

Everyone has failures on the allotment plot and the best thing you can do is to laugh about it and pick yourself up and move on. Try again. Just whack stuff in. Sometimes my biggest successes come after a huge fail as I’ve just whacked something else in to fill the space and it’s grown like crazy!

Keeping yourself motivated on an allotment plot can be hard work, especially when things don’t grow the way you want them to.

SHOULD YOU GET AN ALLOTMENT PLOT?

I hope these downsides have given you something to really think about when deciding whether or not you should get an allotment plot. The positives massively outweigh these negative points, but I hope I’ve given you a realistic look at allotment life.

With so many people near me taking on new plots and giving them up the same year, it’s clear that allotment life is harder than most people realise. It might be that growing in your back garden or even in pots will be a better option for you. That’s ok! Allotments are not the only way to grow your own food.

Let me know if you’re thinking about taking on an allotment plot!