Advice pleeeese-have been asked to give up half my allotment !

[fakeblondie]

I was lucky enough to be given a full allotment end of lasst year.
I have been sooo excited and done quite a bit , but no way near as much as others.
Most people only got given half a plot.
Since taking on the plot i have had 6 weeks of labarythitis, then pregnancy with bad sickness at beginning and chronic swelling in my legs at the end.
Baby is now 4 weeks old and we have had a tongue tie snip after major feeding problems, and things just becoming a little more normal although feeding LOTS!
Anyway i know ive negleted my allotment but i see this as a lifetime commitment, not a competion to see who can be the most productive in the first year. Ive had an e mail from the lady in charge-a nice e mail suggesting we meet up to discuss giving up half my allotment as others with only a half are far more productive than me.

I am really really gutted.
I knew all along i wouldnt really get itgoing until i went on maty leave and i wprked lots of overtime this year to allow myself a year off, so long term i will have much more time available now.
I always saw my allotment as something we would all enjoy until grey and old - i really love it and i really really dont want to give up half even if i dont get around to making it very productive for a while yet-my plans are to put long term things on the other half .
I know they have the right to take it from me if im not upkeeping it and i havent been tbh but i so dont want to lose it . Any tips on how i can approach the lady and keep all my plot ? I thought about maybe suggesting she give me until say Christmas to see how i manage it now im off and baby isnt completely brand new - then suggest we meet again in Dec and discuss handing over half then if the situation isnt much improved ?

Am i being selfish wanting a wholeplot ?

Cheers

fakeblondie what size plot do you have? I have a 5 pole plot and can just about keep up with the veg requirements of my family of 5.

I know that on my allotment field that the greatest sin in the eyes of allotmenteers is lack of cultivation.

IMO I wouldnt go to the allotment lady with a lot of info about all the problems you have had. It isnt likely to get a particularly sympathetic response. What you need to talk to the lady about is what you can do now to start making progress with your plot.

Could you discuss with the allotment lady the idea of temporarily giving up some of your plot? You may be able to give up half for a season or two while you get going. This may give you a bit of space and time. Then when you are ready and have shown you can cope you can ask for more space.

I think you should stick up for yourself - as you say, allotmenting is for life, not just for Christmas, and you are on "allotment Maternity leave" atm.

If you have plans for how you will manage to have enough time to cultivate the whole plot, then be honest with the lady. Tell her if you are planning to cover half in old carpet for 6 months to kill the weeds, etc. Remember that some sites don't allow fruit trees etc.

If you really don't think you will manage it once you have a toddler and another baby on the way etc etc etc, then say that too. Maybe someone else can take it on for one year?

I have an allotment, ours are too big for most people. The next door one to mine is only half cultivated and her nettles and brambles overhanging onto mine drive me nuts. I don't think she will ever get to the end (her kids are school age so its not a pregnacy/baby thing). I wish she would offer half to someone else!

SuzieHomemaker - I disagree. 1) It's the first year 2) Should certainly explain the circumstances 3) Impractical to suggest that a division could be reversed, what about the other family? If you have had the plot since the end of last year and are growing something, well done. What was the state of it when you took it over? It takes 1-2 years imo to shape something up and see the rewards. Go with your instincts. Get other family/riends involved if you can. I know demand for these plots is high, but everyone who is interested should be given a chance.

Can you keep some chickens on one half?

fakeblondie is there anyone in your family who could help out? You would probably need to agree this with your allotment association.

It does take a long while to get a plot under control. I'm only on my second year and the weeds are still a problem because the plot had been allowed to go to rack and ruin before me.

On my field they are pretty tolerant of weeds so long as there is evidence of cultivation. What really annoys everyone is seeing a perfectly good plot turn into a weed seed farm with no evidence of any work taking place.

I would discuss with your allotment association and find out from them what you need to do to keep the plot complete.

Might you try some perennials for a relatively easy way to fill up some space? I am growing some globe artichokes and they are lovely, attractive and massive , you might be able to get some cheap plants at this time of year. You could always remove them later on if you decide you don't want them.

Herbs are also a good idea and some of the perennials I love - fennel herb, sage, thyme, rosemary, chives, garlic chives.

IMO it takes a while to sort out a good plan for your plot but I would just get some things in the ground for now to avoid losing your plot, I'm that you've got an allotment.

I think there are a couple of other perennial veggies but I can't think. I know I've got a seed packet of perennial salad leaves.

HonestyBo- good suggestion with Globe Artichokes, they take up space, look impressive and are perennial. Much overlooked especially if you have a sunny spot. Impressive too, when you cook them!

Yes, but the problem with using globe artichokes to fill up space is that then you actually have to eat the bloody things. Lovely day one, lovely day two, nice day three, by day four, no-one wants to see a globe artichoke again.

And don't get me started on jerusalem artichokes. Other people take over allotments with a bindweed problem. I took over an allotment with a jerusalem artichoke problem. I know more recipes for jerusalem artichokes than anyone else on this planet.

fakeblondie I sympathise - this is pretty much what happened to us, except no-one hassled us. But I used to get very stressed about the fact that the plot was going to rack and ruin - it was also too far away. We now have one (much smaller, only 10m x 5m - wish it was bigger now) closer to home, and it's going really well. I think that you should get some help in - someone to rotavate for you (allotment lady/assoc will probably know people) then plant easy stuff - fruit bushes if allowed. Put in green manures over the autumn/winter (nearly time to sow these) - they will condition the soil and suppress weeds; put some of the plot under plastic/carpet to kill off weeds. This way you are developing your plot, but don't really have to do much beyond the initial - and you can get help with that.

In the spring, plant loads of spuds - easy to care for, good at breaking up soil, keep down the weeds, yummy at the end (lots of plots where I am have taties [as DD calls them] and not much else)

don't give away half until you've had a chance to see how you get on - that should be your last resort - as I say, looking back, I should have taken a bigger one. Let that be a lesson to you...

You can let Globe Artichokes flower, they are a thistle after all and very pretty/architectural As for FartychokesJerusalem Artichokes, well! (could you share some of the recipes though) farting gets a bit competitive during the long winter nights

Best recipe for JA's is to gratin them with a cheesey breadcrumb top or boil and slice them and put in vinaigrette while still hot.

No, the best recipe is definitely Jerusalem artichoke rosti with smoked salmon and creme fraiche.

Thai Jerusalem artichoke curry isn't bad either, as are JA and bacon soup, Lancashire hotpot with a JA topping, spicy JA 'chips'...

Ooh, like the salmon one!

Can you guess I have a JA field too?

Lol at the JA recipes, they caused even more strained relations between two people who share a plot on our site when one pulled them up and the other wasn't happy.

Fakeblondie, part of my allotment (a half plot) is covered with weed membrane (£12 a roll in Wilkinsons) and has pumpkins and courgettes planted through it. Has the advantage of looking cultivated and the couch grass under it dying back.

I would enlist any friends you can to blitz it with you as best you can. Then plant up as best you can with Globe and Jerusalem artichokes, lots of rhubarb, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries, spuds, onions, garlic and lots of herbs.

Depending which part of the country you're in you are going to struggle to dig it over much at the moment, the ground is pretty solid and I'd point this out. Tell her your plans, maybe sketch something out. Be apologetic for not being as far as you had hoped at this point and explain what has happened to delay things but that you have spent the time reading and planning your plot and are now in a position to start putting them into action.

I would go with the Christmas suggestion.
I have a 14 month old and have to admit what with everything else and only have a few hours a week to spare I can only cope with half an allotment.

I agree with WynkenBlynken that you're going to have real difficulties digging at the moment - it's just rock hard where we are, and you couldn't expect anyone to cultivate it. The idea about the weed membrane and pumpkins is a good one for next year.

I think the Christmas suggestion is fair - that way, there's plenty of time for someone else to come in and take over the other half if you can't manage it.

I think a whole plot is more than you're likely to need, to be honest, though.

Thanks everyone.
I have spoken to them and they arent going to take it off me right now-happy to let me see if i can manage it.
love some of the suggestions-espthe weed membrane and growing things thro it.

The lady suggested mulch ??

says i could cover the one half with cardboard, then grass cuttings and plant through them ?

If i do this would i put it on top of the overgrowth or dig and weed first ?

Thank you so much for advise.

Put the cardboard on top - it acts as a mulch and weed suppressant. Then plant between the sheets. Weigh it down with bricks though, otherwise it will blow away onto some-one else's pristine patch.