Complying With Allotment Rules: How to Fill a New Allotment Quickly
Allotment Rules & Frequent Allotment Inspections Concern Allotment Tenants, Especially New Ones, Who Have Not Reached The % Cultivation & Weed Control Rules. Here is How To Quickly Fill & Manage A Plot.
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Complying With Allotment Rules & Legislation isn’t always easy. But allotment rules exist for a good reason, no one wants head high weeds on adjacent plots and it’s only fair that all tenants should manage their plot well. But life isn’t always that easy and some plot inspectors are accused of being too harsh, especially if the plot was recently taken over and had been in a mess, or where the tenant has been ill or unable to work it for a while.
So a sensible way forward makes sense, with both the tenants and the allotment inspectors making certain allowances without being taken advantage of.
However the reality is that some tenants will need to fill the plot to the required percentage cultivation and weed control level and will need to find quick and easy ways to do so. But how is it possible?
How To Fill An Allotment Quickly
There is normally nothing in the rules that defines what is defined as cultivated and what isn’t. In some cases cultivated could mean a bed of lettuce planted nine inches apart in both directions. Or it could mean pumpkins planted at six feet or more apart. Both could easily be argued as being consistent with the cultivation rule. And, if so, it is then a matter of how much of the plot is cultivated.
The thing is it takes little time and effort to plant a squash or pumpkin. And even if there is a need to plant a few dozen, it doesn’t take that long and isn’t as arduous as filling the area with plants at closer spacing.
Of course this doesn’t address the weed issue. It would be easy to plant such an area and find it under severe feet of weeds a few weeks later. But there are ways to overcome this issue.
My quick and easy method would be to cover the soil with cardboard, temporarily held in place with bricks or timber. This will suppress weeds by light exclusion but still allows the soil to breathe. An alternative would be to dispense with the card and to hoe on a regular basis. It’s harder work but still possible. A large area being hoed with hand hoe id going to take time and effort so consider investing in a push hoe. Being on wheels it is quick and easy to use. And if crops are planted on the square they can be hoed in each direction which ensures 100% kill of annual weeds.
A third alternative would be to rotovate between rows. This kills weeds but turns the soil, allows it to dry out and brings more weed seeds to the surface where they spring into life.
Other Cropping Regimes To Fill Space Quickly
In addition to pumpkins or squash you could consider growing sweet corn. Grow them in rows spaced at three foot between rows and they will pollinate easily and also be easy to hoe between the rows.
Commercially I would some years grow half an acre of runner beans. They were grown on a four stick teepee with a gap of three feet between rows and three foot along the row. These measurements being taken from outer edges of the teepee in each case. The beans were grown in situ with 2 beans sowed per station (stick) . You’d have far more beans than you could eat and freeze. but the land would be filled and land would be under cultivation.
Brassicas are another alternative. The larger Brussels and kale can be spaced at three foot spacings. Leeks could also be grown. Put them in at two foot between the rows and, say, 4-6 inches in the row. You could even stretch that to a foot between plants … a foot is a wide spacing but not unreasonably so!
Complying With Allotment Rules With Green Manures
A simple way to cultivate a crop is to broadcast a green manure crop on bare soil. In some cases you can do this without even raking it in. The morale rule works best with very small seed and where you have a fine tilth. The seed just antically falls between the “cracks” and is protected from seed eating birds.
But if you are broadcasting large seeds such s chickpeas, peas, field/broad beans, they are best drilled and placed at least a seed diameter underground. Otherwise seed eaters such as pigeons and mice will soon eat the lot. Cereal crops are the same, many of them make good green manure but do need burying to ensure good germination and growth.
The thing is, green manures can be a very low cost way to cultivate large areas with comparatively little effort.
Weed Control For Complying With Allotment Rules
Keeping on top of weeds is harder than planting up the required area. Hoeing can be laborious unless you use a push hoe. But if you divide the plot into 2-4 sections and hoe one every few days it is easier to keep on top of things.
Another way to limit annual weeds is to swamp them out with a mulch of grass mowings. This lets rain and air in but excludes wilt and kills annual weeds.
If your weed problem is perennial weeds then hopefully you will have negotiated a timescale in which to remove them when you agreed to your tenancy.
Failing To Keep On Top of Weeds & Planting
With the best will in the world sometimes none of the above is going to be possible. If that is a long term issue then perhaps it’s time to either hand in the keys OR get some help. There are often people on the waiting list that would help for a share of the produce. But as subletting is not allowed then get agreement in writing from the allotment managers before getting caught doing it!
Keeping in touch with the manager, council or whoever always makes sense. If approached when a problem surfaces it would be difficult for them to evict you after asking for help and extra time. Not impossible, but difficult. Many are reasonable people and will be willing to help. Seeking help and advice from a local councillor before approaching the council is something worth thinking about.
Help From Neighbouring Plots
When I had an allotment in Warwickshire one of the people own a neighbouring plot had a heart attack and couldn’t continue for several months. The other plot holders rallied around, sowed, planted and harvested this plot for him. Never underestimate the kindness or others.
Conclusion – Complying With Allotment Rules
These are just a few ideas on how to Complying With Allotment Rules. Feel free to make more suggestions in the comments section.
