An allotment is a plot of land that you rent from your local council or a private landowner on which you can grow your own food. Allotments are communal places, so you rent a plot from an allotment site and share utilities such as water and fertiliser with the other plot owners.
What should you not do in an allotment?
Five Things NOT to do When You Get Your First Allotment
- Don’t try to do it all at once.
- Don’t expect supermarket veg.
- Don’t lose sleep over the weeds.
- Don’t ignore your neighbours.
- Forget Instagram-ready plots.
What can you do on an allotment?
Whether you are interested in gardening, growing, cooking or indeed eating, tending an allotment is ideal. You can grow a range of fruits, vegetables and herbs for the kitchen, and even grow ornamental plants for a productive and attractive plot. See if you can designate a piece of your garden to growing crops.
What are allotment rules?
The allotment rules are given to each tenant at the start of their tenancy, and also sent with the rent reminder whenever the rules are reprinted. The tenant is responsible for any person they invite onto the allotments and for making them aware of the rules and health and safety guidance.
Can you sleep on an allotment?
b) Overnight sleeping on the allotment is strictly prohibited.
What are the disadvantages of allotments?
Allotments that have been used to grow fruit and vegetables for many years (some for over 60 years) will harbour many pests and diseases. As the land is never allowed to go fallow, pest populations can build-up and can be difficult to eradicate.
Can you overwater an allotment?
Overwatering can be counterproductive. Plants can become lazy spreading their roots near the surface where watering supplies them rather down to find moisture to make a stronger root system and plant. When watering is necessary, better to give a soaking once a week rather than a dribble each day.
Can I sell things from my allotment?
Usually proceeds go to the allotment association, so they are not regarded as a form of “business”. So, while there is some room for interpretation, legally allotment gardeners can trade a surplus (off site), and councils or associations can let vacant plots to market gardeners.
Can an allotment feed a family?
If managed properly, an allotment can produce enough food to supplement a family’s weekly shop, with fresh fruit and vegetables over the year.
Can you fence your allotment?
There is no specific restriction on fencing around plots, but any fence must not affect any neighbouring allotment tenants. In general, if you wish to train climbing plants up trellis, this should be at least half a metre away from the path.
Can I BBQ in allotment?
You are not permitted to erect any other type of building or structure on the allotment site. You may have a barbeque on your plot for your immediate family, provided that you consider your neighbours and do not spoil their enjoyment of their plot.
How many hours a week do you keep an allotment?
Q: How much time should I spend each week on my allotment? A: This is down to you, but you’ll probably find that once you start planting things, you will need a minimum of four or five hours a week to keep things ticking over in terms of weed and pest control, planting and picking the produce.
Are bonfires allowed on allotments?
Plotholders may have bonfires to burn diseased plants and material which is difficult to compost, but may not burn material that may harm the soil – no paint, bitumen (roofing felt), plastics, etc. The bonfire must be managed safely at all times and must be left in a safe condition when the plotholder leaves the site.
Do I need to water my allotment every day?
Water thoroughly on a weekly basis and soak the soil, this encourages the roots to go deeper in search of moisture. Water appropriately to the crop, plants also need different amounts of water at varying stages of growth and too much water can affect yield and taste.
Can you put a caravan on an allotment?
8.16. 1. Unless designated parking is available on a site., plot holders or their visitors must not bring or place any vehicle, caravan, trailer or vehicle parts onto the allotment site, apart from deliveries.
Do allotments have power?
Most allotment sites don’t have mains power connected but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have some electricity on site.
How often do I need to visit my allotment?
twice a week
Allotments need regular visits. It is recommended to visit at least twice a week to keep on top of the weeding and in hot weather you might need to water your crops every day.
Can animals be kept on an allotment?
Animals must not be kept on allotments, or anywhere else, unless their welfare needs can be provided for (as set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006). Allotments and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
What Animals Can You Keep in an allotment?
Under the 1950 Allotment Act, the keeping of hens and rabbits is permitted on allotments and viewed as an allotment holder’s right, so long as they are for the tenants own use and not for business or profit.
What grows first in a allotment?
Here’s a list of the easiest allotment ideas for beginners to plant:
- Salad Leaves – sow three weeks after planting up until late Autumn.
- Radishes – sow three weeks after the last frost up until late summer.
- Potatoes – sow Feb/March up until September.
- Peas – sow March-June and harvest two-three months later.
How do you dispose of allotment weeds?
What to do with weeds All weed tops apart from bindweed, ground elder or those with seeds can be added to the compost heap; send those to your council green waste service. Some councils will offer a green waste collection service to allotment sites.