Is an allotment a full time job?

[CrickityCrickets]

I've been offered an allotment. Is this going to improve or destroy my mental health? Has anyone got any advice please? It's about 125 sq feet apparently but I don't know about condition.

It depends on the state of it to be honest. With mine in the UK, they cleared it, and rotavated it and that sounds fantastic until you realise they chopped up all the couch grass and made it worse than if I'd just been given it as it was.

Take photos, find out the water situation [is there access to any?] The shed and greenhous/polytunnel policy, and dig a little hole, is there organic matter in the top 6 inches? Is it covered in weeds and if so, what weeds? When was it last worked? What is the access to vehicles like if you want to bring in compost/topsoil/a shed/wood to the site?

I'd only take on another [if I returned to the UK] if it was amenable to being able to get water, storage, access, covered growing spaces and the soil wasn't completely horrendous. Water is probably the easiest of those to solve with water butts and collecting your own but the others are essential IMHO.

I was the secretary for 5 years of my allotment association. Many people fancy the idea of a plot, but the reality of keeping one defeats some. I would say the majority of those who gave up quickly were people with young families who simply couldn't spare the time. It does require a lot of commitment, but doing a little bit regularly is best - and of course in hot weather you will need to water a lot.

Before taking on a plot have a good look at it and decide whether you can manage it. Some plots are passed on in great condition, but others become vacant because the previous plot holder couldn't cope with it, and it may need a lot of work to bring it up to scratch.

As for being a beginner, we all were once. Allotmenteers are generally types who are all too happy to pass on their wisdom to others.

I have a vegetable garden, which is probably bigger than an allotment. It takes up as much time as you want it to, but I’d say it would be trickier with small children unless you have time off during the week without them. I can leave my children in the house or playing in the garden, because I’m just around the other side. It would be more of a challenge if I had to pack up and go somewhere because Dh would need to be home and we’d have to coordinate. It really doesn’t take much time, but it’s more about how easy it is to pop over and do it. My dc are really not particularly interested.