How many hours spent on allotment

[Bren]

Watching the allotment programme on Friday night, one person said they went to the plot once or twice a month, another said they spent an hour or two a week on it, how much time do the forum gardeners spend on theirs?
We spend 7 to 10 hours, and even then the weeds get the better of us at times Later this year they will show a feather film from Liverpool on TV. it should be good watching that grumpy old bloke, he better not come and see my delphiniums.
Bren

[Malk]

I used to go about three or four days a week (in the high season, not winter) for at least three hours a day, but now with Nugget I maybe get out twice a week for about two hours. Fridays Nugget's in nursery so I go for as long as I can, but either on Tuesday or Sunday the wee man comes with me and I usually only get an hour or two in due to grumpiness.

Still I can't imagine not going at least once a week and when the weather means I don't get out as often as I'd like, I'm in a terrible mood, stir crazy and depressed.

[Tigger]

I know I garden at home and not on an allotment, but I go out every morning before work and every evening after work and a good chunk of most weekends.

Once a month would result in nothing. A few hours a week would be just about adequate.

[Weed]

I go onto the plot usually most Saturday and Sunday mornings for between three and four hours at a time.
This routine can depend on any plans the Governor has for me then things can change somewhat.

You also have to take into consideration the time spent chatting to 'visitors' or tea/coffee time.

[Chantal]

All weekend (except the winter) given the chance, which is most weekends. Also every night after work when it's light enough, often from around 5-8am before work in the high summer. My summer holidays are spent there and this year my honeymoon will be on the plot too Tim will go and play golf.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, i really feel i want to say something, but it would be lot safer for me if i don't.

[darrenc]

Because i have chooks on my plot i visit twice every day before and after work regardless of what shift i am on either days or nights.This doesnt include the time spent when the kids are at school so its a lot of time.

[richard p]

i find the time spent on the veg patch varies ,not only with the season but also with what else i have to do. i find the time to do what has to be done to produce crops, i dont spend hours tidying and tittyvating, theres too much else going on, time has to be spent productivly,

[Compo]

It depends really on the time of year, obviously in season an hour or two a night is enough to weed and water, however, this time of year OH is a bit of an allotment widow, whilst the ground is prepared and the seeds are being sewn. But it keeps me sane, sometimes I feel it is a bit too much for a working man, but hey we gotta do something.

Compo

[tea-shot]

Since we took on the plot at the end of last year, I think the average we have spent on it is 40-50 hours a week. We do have hens that need feeding 2x a day, but we have also had to redisign, repair, dig drainage channels, go on raids/check through skips, and basically work like the divil in order to have somewhere available to grow things this year. It helps that our family is on the scrounge (otherwise known as long-term incapacity benefit - hubby has memory problems) but I think we would still be putting in a fair few hours if we were working in the big wide world. I'm basing that on the amount of time we would spend in the garden normally.

[Monika]

This time of the year about 3 hours a week, when the weather allows it, and perhaps double that in late spring/summer. After that, there is a great spurt of activity to tidy and dig everything, but from, say, November to early spring, we usually just go there once or twice a week to see that all is well and, of course, to harvest leeks, carrots, sprouts etc.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Tea-shot, i certainly would not class your family as being on the scrounge, you are getting something that you are perfectly entitled too.
And i hope you get the full enjoyment out of your allotment that you deserve.

[tea-shot]

Thanks for that, old herbaceous I don't feel like a scrounger but sometimes 'SOCIETY' likes to put labels on people.
And necessity is the mother of invention - you would be surprised at the way things are re-cycled in this house

[Malk]

tea-shot,

do you think i could get incapcity benefit for having memory problems due to becoming a mum? They call it Nappy-Brain. since Nugget was born I can't remember anything. I was going to go to a seminar on Work/Life Balance and went to check the time for it on Tuesday night (thinking it was on Wed afternoon) only to discover it was held on Tues afternoon. So my work and life are still not balanced, I am in general unbalanced.

[tea-shot]

Dear Malk, please don't worry - the brain is a marvellous organ and does recover - three kids of my own and hundreds of other peoples proves that - I think Now what was the question again