Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi
Just got my long awaited allotment and I was wondering if anyone knows of or has a link on how to lay out an allotment or an allotment plan. Thought that I would have a look at one or two so as not to go wrong from the start
Any Ideas would be good, also I have no idea about crop rotation, and have just decided that I dont know much at all.
SB

me, too. kg had an article a few months ago about crop rotation. (i think it was the july issue? dunno: i spent 3 weeks reading all my MIL's back issues, so things are a bit blurry) but everyone and their uncle has an opinion on it. i had heard of 3 bed crop rotation, but have seen diagrams for up to 5 beds!

because of my space (9 feet by ten feet) and farm labor (desperately eager to help 4 year old) i am going with one 3 by 4 ft rectangle in the bottom right corner for him and his sunflowers and blue flowers and carrots, and then a 4 foot wide l-shape around it with all the things *i* want to grow. because i can't stand the thought of wasted space, the 2 ft path between them (i call it the "falling down space", 4 yr olds fall down a lot... nevermind their mothers) will have containers in it. if things go *realy* well, maybe i'll even make some runner bean arches over the path, as i could use the shade.

while visiting mil, visited Harlow Carr where they had a kitchen garden almost the exact same size, shape as the one i described. they used the small square for perennials, and then rotated the crops in and out of the big L as they were ready. (they claimed they could feed a family of 4 on their ten by ten plot. they neglected to mention the large greenhouse the family would also need. )

if i had more space, i would do proper rotation but i'm not sure it's practical in my space. just going to grow stuff and see what happens.

I could send you mine. For 2009/2010

All i've done is set up a template on excel and have a sheet for each month. So for October i've shown where say my winter onions are and included them on every months sheet until they are due to harvest and then it shows buttnernut squash.

I do this so i can see easily how i can fit everything in making sure I keep the full which means less weeding. It also keeps more a little more focused as i know from week to week the jobs i needs to do.

How to planting your allotment is a good book to start with as it helps you layout the plot and then gives you a four page example of a plot producing food for a family all year round, high speed plot, italian theamed plot and so on.

Hi Chicken4 I would be interested in looking at how you do yours,if you dont mine.
I find it hard to know when things will be ready to harvest and when to plant them to get a continued crop, so looking at your would be a great help..
SB :O)

skinny_bum wrote:Hi Chicken4 I would be interested in looking at how you do yours,if you dont mine.
I find it hard to know when things will be ready to harvest and when to plant them to get a continued crop, so looking at your would be a great help..
SB :O)

Pleased to help, I think the planning thing was something I would have loved help with when i started. There's advice on how to arrange your plot but not much on planting examples.

I'll pm you.