Should I give up my cobbled together allotment plot and take up a plot on an official site with full amenities?

[AllotmentQuandry]

I've had my plot for two years now and it's been a real journey for me. It's part of a small group of plots on some spare parish land and run by the parish. When I took it on it wasn't just overgrown - it had never been successfully cultivated. It was used as a dumping ground then marketed as plot which a couple of people had tried and failed over the years to make work. I myself was new to allotmenting and indeed to gardening at all, as I've never had one and I've poured blood sweat and tears into clearing it and getting it up and running. This second summer I've had in it now is the first time I've had it looking like I want it to and I love it, I feel like I am starting to know and understand it.

But. The site has no water and this year, that's been a problem. Some things haven't worked at all because I couldn't get them watered enough, and when I want to water it means driving from my flat with a container and carrying it along a footpath. I do have butts but it hasn't rained!

All this time I've been on a waiting list for a "proper" site and now I've been offered one. It would make sense to take it but I've poured my heart and soul into that derelict corner and it honestly is my happy place. I also am dreading doing the whole "clearing the plot" thing again - I know how long it can take! But then on the other hand, having no water is a huge issue and it means lots of extra work and disappointment.

I don't need to make a decision immediately but if I do move I'd rather do it now and get started clearing ready to plant in spring. I just don't know what to do! What would you do?

We tried keeping an allotment with no water once. We lasted less than a year, it was a nightmare. If I were you I'd take the proper one with a water supply. Otherwise you will be continuing with something that is ultimately going to disappoint.

Go and look at the new one.It might be in really good nick.

I’ve had my plot 3 years now and have also put so much into it. It’s not the one I wanted, but the work has made it MY place so I know just what you mean.

but no water… I don’t know if that’s even vaguely sustainable… I would certainly go and look and weigh everything up. You will learn to love another plot!

Weirdly, lots of things do work with just me visiting with containers and what I can get out of the butts. This year alone I've successfully grown: onions, potatoes, chard, strawberries, raspberries (both put in last year), courgettes, sweetcorn, rhubarb, tomatoes (in bags), kale, lettuce, herbs, lavender and a few flowers - sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums. Once past the early growth stage and they have a hold it's fine with what sporadic watering I can manage plus what rain we've had, it's just getting them there, that's where the failure rate is high.

I've had my plot for two years now and it's been a real journey for me.
Two years is nothing. Consider it your 'starter plot'. You wouldn't necessarily stay with your first boyfriend, car, house. etc, etc so you can apply the same principle here. Take your learning and apply it to the next plot (assuming it's a better plot, of course!) and feel proud that you left the old plot better than when you found it.

You haven't mentioned soil: is it better in the new plot?

You've done brilliantly considering no water! Imagine what you can achieve with water too!

I'm in a similar position - two years in on a community garden plot with no water - and would take the water-ed plot as long as the management isn't a nightmare/there isn't another pitfall.

Managed strawberries, toms, potatoes, berries, onions, garlic, nasturiums, rhubarb and benefitted from apple and pears on site but I just can't get enough water on site.