Allotment Sizes.
How big is a rod of land?
Why are allotments measured in this way?
What sizes do allotment come in?
How big is an allotment?
The answers:
The most common measurement used to describe an allotment size is to use the measurement called a rod.
A rod is a way of measuring land and it is an old fashioned measuring term, but it is (often) still used for the size of allotments.
So what size is a rod of land?
How big are allotments?
Ten rods and twenty rods are the most common sizes given for allotments in the UK and these are -
- A ten rod plot of land is roughly about 250 square metres of land, and half plot sized allotment is often about this size.
- An allotment described as a whole plot is usually about 20 rods in size.
Smaller plots than the above sizes are sometimes available to make them more manageable for the plot owners.
Ten rods was thought to be big enough in size to enable a family to grow enough vegetables for themselves.
A common description for allotments is a half plot and whole plot and the size of these can vary depending on the area where the allotment is and on who 'runs and owns' the allotment site.
Allotment plots do not always come in square or rectangular shapes, as they are often fitted into irregular shaped areas of land. When you view an allotment it can be difficult to ascertain its true size. Especially if it is suffering from neglect or is overgrown with weeds and brambles. This type of allotment often described as - an untidy plot (although at times you may think of other names for it as you work to bring it back into a useful and productive fruit and vegetable plot).
It is worth looking at the tidy and worked plots on the site to get an idea of their size and how much food you will be able to grow there.
The measurement of a square rod is - 30.5 square yards (at five and a half yards by five and a half yards).
That is approximately between 25- 26 square m.
- A square rod is = five and a half yards by five and a half yards.
