Talkback: Allotment vs garden

Gardeners' World Web User

I took up an allotment this year, but after constant nagging from my better half i was forced to dedicate some time to my garden at home, hard work but glad i did it now i feel less horticulturaly guilty now

Gardeners' World Web User

My garden is well established, big shrubs and trees, no bedding plants, small lawn and free ranging chickens, so it is fairly low maintenance. However, I'm ashamed to confess that I pay my next door neighbour (who runs a garden maintenance business) to keep it under control. I do some work and am planning a big overhaul for the late autumn, but the few hours that he has put in this year, and the lawn mowing every week, have left me guilt free about spending all my time on my allotment.

Gardeners' World Web User

I wish I had an allotment, there's a long waiting list in this part of Yorkshire.

Gardeners' World Web User

Well done. It'll be worth the effort.

Gardeners' World Web User

What part of Yorkshire are you in? Kez

Gardeners' World Web User

Haveing taken on my allotment in September this year i have made the choice of keeping my soft fruit in the garden, along with lettuce & tomatoes. Thank god for the rain as i shall now be able to get the plot dug. Just about managed to get in the onions & garlic. I now have to dig the other 4rods. Roll on the spring when i can really get planting.

Gardeners' World Web User

I'm running a small business in Cornwall converting people's back gardens into vegetable patches - why not combine the two? Especially people who can't get on the allotment waiting lists/ can't make the journey each day.
It's great for the grandkids to come and help, and you can tidy the other bits as you head to and from the veg plot!

Gardeners' World Web User

There are allotments not far from were we live, but again there are long waiting lists. However having a fulltime jobs, being a plant aholic and having the possibility of growing our own fruit and veg we converted our back garden this year after moving into the house last year. The back garden is not huge but we have managed with an area for soft fruit, three beds for veg plot and currently we are working on the the garden side. Having the veg plot in our own back garden has given us heaps of pleasure and veg. Cant wait for the flowers next year as well.

Gardeners' World Web User

i think that it is true.I know someone that has an alottment and the garden in a reck so if u have and alottment that take tiime off in your own garden and look after it well.

Gardeners' World Web User

I have been producing my own organic food for years now and am trying to help inspire others to do the same, I grow vegetables and herbs and produce all my own meats.

Do you fancy producing your own sausages or traditional british vegetables?

Gardeners' World Web User

I am not suprised that you have worked out how to get the best from both worlds, I on the other hand do all my gardening at home, unable to take on the extra work of an allotment. have grown things in pots but you can only do so much but what I have grown I have really enjoyed as I know that no pestisides have been used, this is the real reason for being organic, to know that we are not poisoning our selves in the process.