History 2012 - Plot Alterations

The plot had gone fairly well for four seasons in its twelve bed format but by the winter of 2011/12 I had decided to do some rationalization. I had originally worried about not being able to keep the plot tidy and under control so the the smaller bed system gave me the 'comfort blanket' of being able to cover some of the beds over with black polythene if I didn't have time to cultivate them. As it turned out, I managed to be able to cope with the work on the allotment and my concerns were unfounded. In fact, all the beds were producing well.

Having bought a greenhouse (located in my garden, not the plot) I had a few more growing options that sowing under glass provided. For the first few years I grew large numbers of outdoor bush tomatoes, too many runner beans, pumpkins (which no-one really liked at first) and beds of salad that more often than not went to seed. My crop choice had changed by now and, as a family, we had largely worked out what we wanted from the allotment. While the smaller bed system worked well for me (and is a really useful design for the beginner and experienced plot holder alike), these other things (plus I wanted a winter project) led to a bit of a re-design.

The twelve small east to west beds were re-laid into four large north to south beds measuring 6' wide by 32' long with narrow paths in-between. (The 32' length was arbitrary, just the maximum length I could get on my plot with space at one end for compost bins and a path). I also began the process of clearing a weed infested 2' strip down the length of one side (this is still ongoing!) to put some ad-hoc cold frames and other bits and bobs. One of the four beds was laid totally to fruit with three rows of summer raspberries, two rows of autumn raspberries, five rows of strawberries, a few small gooseberry bushes, two decent size black current bushes and a number of rhubarb plants. The other three beds are just enough for a decent crop rotation.

Unfortunately the first summer of the new layout was 2012, according to the Met Office, the wettest summer for a hundred years. My allotment (and everyone else's on my site) was a washout - it was awful and disheartening. However, despite a very cold Spring that seemed to go on forever, 2013 turned out to be a good season and the new layout worked very well indeed. (Pictured is the new four bed system and some other images from 2013 season. The fruit bed is the furthest away near the plastic cold frame in the first image and there are a few 'heeled in' leeks in the fruit bed in the middle image).

UPDATE: I took over the opposite plot in June 2014 (see post 15 Jun - Making A Start On The New Plot) so I now have a complete allotment for the first time.