i'd like to start growing my own fruit and veg and since i don't have a garden as such i wanted to know if any of you have ever had an allotment?
What's it like having an allotment? What criteria would you use to choose a suitable one?
The nearest ones to me are Rodney Hill and Rivelin Valley.

I have had two allotments.

The first was up Hinde House Lane. That was a nice one, hedge all the way round, lockable gate and a water point not far away. I lost that one because I had a series of major operations, the council cleared it and then, helpfully, locked it up.

The second one I had was out here at Killamarsh.
Again it was a nice size, open land, no water but it was up to its earholes in bindweed, brambles and assorted other nasties. I had to give that one up because hubby didn't think much of me spending a lot of time on it.

I think you don't get a lot of choice in the matter. I think the council offers one and you take it!

I did try to get the last one under control without weedkillers etc, just digging out the rubbish but ended up torching the brambles and weedkilling the couch grass.

Best thing I can suggest is getting a bit under control at a time and working on the rest as you can. Oh, and enrolling your friends, romans and countrymen to help. Its a hard job on your own. A shed or greenhouse is rather nice for those moment when the heaven opens or the January wind is scything through you. Just don't leave anything in them because everybody and their brother will be queuing up to nick it. On some allotments, even the shed/greenhouse walks! Make regular visits each week to the allotment too, because things grow alarmingly, mostly the weeds though.

We have a total of 7 all privately owned at millhouses (nr crematorium). They are a little overgrown and have been in the family for ages. This year my partner (who is vegetarian) decided she wanted to grow her own veg and she is absoloutley thrilled by it all we have cleared an area around the greenhouse about 400sg feet and have enjoyed many fresh produce from the land. My partner does not use ANY chemicals of any kind or man made fertiliser which made it a little more difficult but she has proven to me it can be done and mmmmmm how sweet the food is. We have had peas (several varieties), Broad beans, french beans, runner beans, mange tout, sweetcorn, radish, onion, carrrot,lettuce (several types), moulee, parsnip, turnip, blackberry, rasberry, rhubarb, celery, tomatoes (5 types) and many more lovely fruits & veg. She uses companion planting techniques to avoid problems from insects but on top of the insect control it means there is also an abundance of fantastic flowers around the garden. If your serious and find the plot im sure she would be willing to discuss the techniques with you.

Best wishes and DO HAVE A GO.
We still have loads of packs of seeds if you need any as we got about 5000packets in bulk and took what we needed and sold the rest although there are about 500 packs remaining and we can let you have them at around 25% of marked price.

haven't got one yet but am in the process at the moment. You do get a bit of choice. The Council are sending out a map with the availble plots marked on it, can take my pick of these. If I don't find one I fancy I can be added to the waiting list. Have been warned though that these can take an age to become available. Will be looking to see what the soil is like, how much work it's need doing to, light access etc.

Hope this helps, best bet is probably get in touch with the council, see if anything grabs you and take it from there. :)

Do you have a yard or balcony? If so you could start growing before you get your plot by using containers. Pots, troughs grow bags, hanging baskets etc the possiblities are endless!

thanks for all the info:
Debk - i do have a concrete yard but this year i grew two types of tomato, lettuce, corriander, cucumbers and a cabbage. Its just that there is no space to put anything else really.

tamarindl - i think we are looking perhaps at the same area. maybe we are destined to become neighbours!

NUCAD - thanks for all the information. I am hoping to follow along the same lines and hope to grow using chemical free and low impact methods

I'd like to have an alotment one day... I but dont know much about gardening or owt but fancy growing my own fruit and veg. Would anyone like to share one between a few people? I live in greystones and would like one fairly close to home, if you live in the area and are interested lets hear from you.

DAve

Originally posted by moongarden

tamarindl - i think we are looking perhaps at the same area. maybe we are destined to become neighbours!


maybe, looking at the ones in Rivelin, aparently there a couple availble at the moment. someone has said that they're not the best but will have a look and you never know. seeya later, possible future allotment, neighbour. :)

Hiya

We got our allotment earlier this year.

If you ring the allotment office they will send you a list of places with spares and maps so you can go and have a look.

My recommendation look at loads......we did and at first got really disheartened as most were like forests (complete with trees that had been there for years).

Luckily we found one in Meersbrook that even though it was overgrown was only weeds and grass. We jumped on it straight away.

We know nothing about gardening, we're just getting to the end of the clearing stage and digging the beds out. Its been hard work and we still have the greenhouse to reglaze and cold frames to build but they're our winter jobs.

We've bought a few useful books and are getting tips from them apart from that its going to be trial and error. But we planted our first crop (garlic) at the weekend and sitting back with our cup of tea looking at the results of our hard work is a great feeling.

Just to kind of reiterate stuff from the Hagg House thread - the council do have a lovely seecret man called Bob who will do basic plot clearance for you so you can at least get onto your site without a chainsaw!
It does give you a sickeningly rosy glow when you get back home with 2 tiny courgettes or whatever. I've never been one for gardening but I've been sucked in by it all.
Oh and you can buy ace manure from the city farm in Heeley. And it doesn't make your car smell.

Can anybody tell me whether it costs anything to rent an allotment?

think its about £25, a little more if you have a water supply.

there's more info on http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=19019

hth.

What??? per annum, one off charge, per month?

Its ok, just read your link, its per annum

DOes anyone have an allotment in Meersbrook that they would like to transfer?

I have never had an allotment but at one time we had a big garden, where we used to grow our own veg. I can tell you it is marvellous. We had our own potatoes, beans, carrots, beetroot you name it. It tastes a thousand times better than anything you can buy (watch out for the insects though)

Originally posted by NUCAD
My partner does not use ANY chemicals of any kind or man made fertiliser
There is certain 'man-made' fertiliser you can use and remain organic ;)

Yey!!! I got my allotment. It lovely too!

An old man gave it up last year after about 15 years, it has two sheds and a greenhouse and is right at then end of a row, nice and big....OOh hang on lots of hard work to do now then.

Beware the Rivelin Valley ones, a lot of people had to give them up because of the vandalism. Alottments are fantastic for a number of reasons but they are governed by some strange, medieval laws.

Marsh Lane, Crosspool. There were certainly some 50 years ago, and probably still are.

I don't have an allotment as such, but back in March moved into a house with a big garden and a vegetable patch and greenhouse :banana: This year was my first attempt at growing anything, but I managed to grow new potatoes (in abundance - I was giving them away for weeks!), carrots (less successful, but they were ok), tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, mint, basil and parsley. I prepared the ground right at last minute and tbh just threw everything at it, so there are quite a few things I intend to do different next year, when I have a bit more time to plan it out! The cucumber plants were the surprise success - my greenhouse was filled with them!

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::suspect::rant ::loopy:i have an allotment at riverlin and i love it.i'd like to start growing my own fruit and veg and since i don't have a garden as such i wanted to know if any of you have ever had an allotment?
What's it like having an allotment? What criteria would you use to choose a suitable one?
The nearest ones to me are Rodney Hill and Rivelin Valley.

I have one at riverlin and its great,fresh veg,fresh air and its a good place to get away from the wife for a bit.Go for it.Mark.

I have one in riverlin valley,when i took it on in august it was like a jungle,i said if i get it cleared for the winter i would be happy.I have cleared all the brambles,weeds,grass,washing machines and cookers and i have got crops already.My family and i are already eating Curly Kale.Cabbage,Radishes and i have got cauliflowers and turnip and winter cabbage in.Please give it a go.The rates are cheap enough.We even had a bbq on it earlier this year.Please get in touch if you want any more info.

Wow Willcox, you've done well! And welcome by the way! we did notice over the weekend how many plots have been taken on the Hagg Hill and Rivelin sites - fabulous!

I feel really jealous of all you allotmenteers, but I know I cant take one on because of my dodgy back and parenting commitments. We do have a longer garden now though, which is neatly divided into three so hopefully I will be doing more veg next year.

The third that will be fruit and veg will have a couple of apple trees soon. The kids are insisting we plant pumpkins though!

I have one at riverlin and its great.Freindly faces are always welcome.

Titian,

How did you manage to get your allotment - I know there's a big waiting list for the massive Heeley and District site and I thought there was a waiting list on the Norton Lees site next to Meersbrook Park. I didn't thin you could get them transferred when there was a waiting list - is this not the case?


Yey!!! I got my allotment. It lovely too!

An old man gave it up last year after about 15 years, it has two sheds and a greenhouse and is right at then end of a row, nice and big....OOh hang on lots of hard work to do now then.

Antisocial,

When you say Meersbrook do you mean the Heeley and District site or do you mean the Norton Lees site by Meersbrook Park? This seems to cause loads of confusion, even in the allotment office. Mine's on Heeley and District down towards Rose Cottage.

Hiya

We got our allotment earlier this year.

If you ring the allotment office they will send you a list of places with spares and maps so you can go and have a look.

My recommendation look at loads......we did and at first got really disheartened as most were like forests (complete with trees that had been there for years).

Luckily we found one in Meersbrook that even though it was overgrown was only weeds and grass. We jumped on it straight away.

We know nothing about gardening, we're just getting to the end of the clearing stage and digging the beds out. Its been hard work and we still have the greenhouse to reglaze and cold frames to build but they're our winter jobs.

We've bought a few useful books and are getting tips from them apart from that its going to be trial and error. But we planted our first crop (garlic) at the weekend and sitting back with our cup of tea looking at the results of our hard work is a great feeling.

Some photos of the plots would be nice, if any of you fancy showing us your work in progress.

I got mine at riverlin in about 3 weeks,it was a total mess ut i now have veg growing and only had it 3 months.

Does anyone fairly local to me have a good strong rhubarb plant I could come and take a cutting of. I am in Hillsbrough