"Pete C" wrote in message
...
After being told when I applied, that it would probably be later next year
before I would be likely to be offered anything.............Hey
hey.........been offered half a plot today. Hope to view at the weekend.
Now, tips please on what to lookout for. I can check a car over prior to
purchase, but an allotment??
Cheers


Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful wacky world of
allotmenteering.

Given that you've been on a waiting list, it seems likely that it will not
have been lying untended for a long time, so it shouldn't be too much of a
jungle. And given the low cost of an allotment, it's not like you're going
to get your fingers burned like when buying a duff car.

I would go down there and first identify it, it may or may not be marked
with a number. If not, ask the other plotholders which one is yours, and
identify your boundaries. Then have a look round it, there will almost
certainly be some weeds, but you may be lucky and get some crops straight
off. When we got ours in July, we got a massive crop of autumn planted broad
beans that were ready to pick on day one! You may not be that lucky though.
Talk to the other plotholders, ask them what the soil is like, what
perennial weeds are on site, whether club root is endemic. They will
identify for you anything you don't recognise. Is water supplied or do you
have to catch your own? Is there a local supply of manure? Is it free? And
is it delivered or do you have to go and get your own? Will the committee
arrange for the surface to be cleared off for you? Is there a seed shop on
site? Do any local businesses do discounts for allotmenteers?

Tips -

Buy nothing, at least in the first instance. Scavenge.

Always check out skips, there may be something in them you can use. Few
people will object to your taking something, but it's best to ask first. Buy
a bicycle puncture outfit[1], most wheelbarrows in skips are there because
they have a puncture.

Always mention the allotment when you're scrounging, people think you're a
pauper and are more likely to give you stuff. Tell all your friends about
the allotment, you don't know what tools etc are lurking in their sheds.
Join your local Freecycle.org group, loads of good stuff there.

Check out your local industrial estate. Many pallets and similar stuff are
available. Nowadays (mostly) they don't have a deposit on them and they are
scroungeable. Again, mention the allotment, people often say " Ah, have you
got a use for....."

If water is not freely available, watch out for plumbers working in peoples
houses. Nowadays, many boilers are being replaced by combi types, and this
often releases the water tanks from the loft. The plumbers usually let you
have them as it saves them dumping them.

And remember the three things you should always do when you go to the
allotment.

1 A bit of gardening.

2 A bit of talking.

3 A bit of nothing.

Enjoy.
Steve

[1] I know, I said buy nothing. Make an exception, they can be got for 99p
at the likes of wilko.