New Allotment How much time do you spend in yours?

My daughter and her partner have just got a notification to pick one in Brighton, near the racecourse, watching this forum with interest, I imagine I will be on a hot line, it was bad enough when they grew a few tomato plants on the balcony, thank god I am to far away to help with the digging.

 

If you were retiring in 2 years time from Oct 2014, that would mean planning taking on a tenancy in Oct 2016?, I assume that was so you could clear/dig in the Autumn of 2016 and start in earnest in the Spring of 2017, so by my reckoning you could be 2 years earlier than planned for your first growing season.

What condition is the plot in, will it take a year to clear? And if it's one of the best plots that could affect any decision on starting earlier than intended. Work on constructing a shed (and polytunnel?) could be put in hand over the next 2 Summers. Use of Mypex mulch mat will keep weeds at bay until there's more time available.

Is there water on site? And the earlier you start, the sooner you might get to know others who will help you out with watering when you're on holiday and have got lots of stuff growing.

Got a bicycle? That will take 20 mins off a return trip.

Schedule it out as it differs depending on what you grow and how you go about it.

If you've got grandchildren old enough to 'help' I'm sure they'd love it and some time could be spent with them there rather than at home. Perhaps they could help cut the grassy paths?

 

Hiya John
My view is that once the plot has been cleared (the hardest bit!), 5 hours is more than enough to maintain it during the growing season. Maybe an hour or two weeding? Of course, come late autumn you'll know doubt want to dig it over and get some 'muck' in, but I still think that you could do that in the 5 hour time slot, dependant on the size of the plot.

EDIT : I'd forgotten planting time Obviously, this can be time consuming, but still do-able in 5 hours, I reckon.

 

I'm only currently spending 2 hours on my plot a week. I only have an 8 rod plot though.

 

Surely you can spend as much or as little time as you want there, so long as you are there enough to fill your contract? Don't put too much pressure on yourself or you won't get any enjoyment out of it

 

I think once you start coming home with some goodies she will soon change her mind. Mr Jane isn't interested in it but happily eats all the produce I was given by fellow plotters who had gluts last summer.

I forgot to add in the beginning I was spending a lot longer up there than I am doing because I had so much to clear and my workload wasn't as great as it is now. I suppose it depends on what size and condition the plot is in you get. Have you picked one yet?

 

Check out the location of the water source, if any

 

John, don't forget the pics

 

Plus the youtube video.

 

John, be sure to have a chat with the 'locals'. They might be able to give you an insight into local conditions. Stoney ground, heavy clay, that kinda thing. Might be worth taking a fork to try the ground? Not so long back I took on a plot, but I had to give it up, it was full of stones. So much so that I couldn't even get a fork into it!