to mothball allotment

[BadAtMaths2]

It's a fairly busy site, Council run. But they take about 2 years to evict anyone so there's a number of neglected plots. The waiting list isn't huge.

I've got about 5 years till I retire. When I will have more time for the allotment. It's still going but I've neglected it for the last couple of years.

My plan is to cover all but 2 of the beds with weed suppressant. Plant strawberries in the remaining on and put beans in the other. Then I can just strim and keep it all tidy till I've got time for it.

Or should I give it up and re-apply in 5 years.

Putting some plants in is a good idea. You can show you are cultivating some of it, supressing weeds and clearing the rest. Call it a work in progress.

I did it with my lawn 3 years ago and its so easy to dig over, you wouldn't believe it. There are only a few deep rooted weeds left, the rest have rotted down.
I used mainly cardboard tied down with bean netting and tent pegs because I can get it free; the snails have had a good chew on it and converted some of it to compost.

If it was an active allotment with a waiting list, I'd say YABU, but given what you've said, I'd do what you've planned out!

There may be regulations against covering it. i.e. not 'cultivated'.

Weed suppressing mulch is counted as cultivating (or preparing to cultivate.)

Agree with cardboard as mulch. Weighed down with water filled milk bottles of you need.

But maybe plant fruit bushes or dwarf trees now (well, autumn) ? Will not need looking after, and you can mimsy over and pick/prune IF you fancy it and they'll be established in time for retirement.

But if its causing you stress, just give it up. And reapply in 4 years if you still want it.

"But if its causing you stress, just give it up. And reapply in 4 years if you still want it."

That's a very good point. It is causing me stress.

I think I'm caught in sunk costs fallacy. I've put a lot of time and effort and money into it over the last 10 years or so. Used to go up every day and really enjoy it. And because I was up there every day - just 30 minutes to an hour through out the summer - it was under control and productive.

But now, I pick bushels of plums and blackcurrants from it. I know there's potatoes ready but haven't found the time to go up and dig them. And when I do go I'm strimming the grass rather than enjoying it.

Will you really spend more time there when you retire though? There will be other things you want to do on retirement and it sounds as if you have fallen out of love with your allotment.

Potatoes in pots or buckets so you don't have to dig. The spent compost can be mixed in with fresh so not too expensive.

agree with trees and bushes. If its for retirement then you want an easy plot.

have you heard of No Dig? Could be an idea. Easier over time but you need a good supply of compost. Are you making any or do you have a car? Local pet shops will let you have soiled hay and wood shavings from the pets there for free.
I'd cover everything with cardboard and start making a big pile of compost.

This should be easier in 5 years when you have a good supply built up.

Having had an allotment, and eventually given it up, I'd strongly suggest giving it up and re-applying for one when you have the time to dedicate to it - it's not easy keeping an allotment in check, and even a small hiccup in your availability can end up resuliting in weeks of effort to get things back on an even keel. It will be a constant source of stress until you can give it the time it needs.

I bet you do spend more time there when you retire and not working. I wouldn't give up my whole plot, could you half it? Less stress. Less strumming?

Have you someone you could unofficially share it with?

I would ask if anyone else wants to use some of it. Plenty of people like the idea of an allotment but a full plot is a lot of work, so a quarter-share for example is a good starting point.

Getting rid of the grass at my plot was the best thing I did! Saves SO much time. I have woodchip, piled on card and newspaper as my paths.

But the sunk costs. 5he money HAS been spent, so has the time. Keeping the plot won't bring either back. Domyou have plants you're especially sentimental about? Would the layout suit an older you?

Another thought would be to share with someone. Maybe someone younger for them to do some heavy work -veg growing is super popular at the moment -it would be instagram fodder for many. Or pay a student to dig up your paths of grass? Then make it the lowest of maintenance.

How much is it costing you annually?

with the two local allotments here, the chances of you get ANY allotment are very very negligible, let alone at the exact time you want one again.

getting the one you have now, again, anywhere I should think, is highly unlikely. Then IF you have put a lot into getting the soil 'good' that will definitely be a loss.

unless it's costing an unaffordable amount each year, I'd keep it and do what you've said or anything I thought would better the soul for when I retired. Plant something if it took my fancy, but not if I couldn't be arsed.

if you cba to get the potatoes, do you have a friend/neighbour who would enjoy getting them & having them??

I would quite like one at the closest allotment to me, but it's unfortunately still (realistically) a car drive away (3.5 miles. A bit much there & back frequently to be enjoyable) and after an accident last year I can no longer ride my bike (accident wasn't on my bike).

mind you, given the wait times for ANY plot, let alone the 'good' ones is LONG maybe I should put my name down. I guess I can always say 'no thanks' if one comes up & the timing isn't good. I was hoping to move to somewhere with a better garden, but it's not looking great as far as that's concerned , at the moment.

Give it up and stop being so selfish.

Since Lockdown demand for allotments rocketed (especiualy among people with no other outside space) and I'd be VERY surprised if waiting list is low at yours.. Our local allotments closed the waiting list at 39; the next nearest lets theirs run and it's currently over 80.

Both of them only get one or two vacancies a year.

It might say so in your contract, but if someone takes umbrance and you have a little hitler on your allotment committee...it varies...

We have a 30 person waiting list with rules of 75% cultivating in the first 6 months. You’d be getting warnings and evicted here. A year ago the council wouldn’t care this year we are not even giving out full plots, some sites are even halving half’s that come up.

Also weed membrane here would only count as getting ready to cultivate during the winter month to early spring time after that unless it’s on a rest year it would be expected to be used.

The waiting list was really long on ours, but I know people who are getting plots with only a few weeks wait as a lot of people were on the list but don't want them any more. And the enforcement is very lax for overgrown plots. I don't want to piss off my plot neighbours though so it needs to be under control.

also its a very good plot, I've vastly improved the clay soil, and its close to the tap and free manure heap...

I think you're talking yourself into keeping it! Being close to the tap is important, and good soil is everything!
In which case, maybe make a plan to make it as low maintenance as possible. Eg gathering cardboard, or scrounging it from bike shops or Currys type shops. Researching green manures that you can leave for aaaaages etc.

OP, don’t give it up.

Gardening is a bit of a chore sometimes instead of pleasure but it’s very beneficial to out wellbeing.

Have a look at no dig gardening. Plenty of videos of Charles Dowding doing it.
Due to lack of time and health I went his way and it’s working. I have more or less everything growing wherever I shoved it.
Sometimes I had to push myself really hard to get out there and do mundane stuff(weeding and prep)

Don’t give up. not yet.

You’ll appreciate it later