Allotments

A society that has entered into an agreement with the City will supervise the compliance with these Rules, act as an intermediate to the City and intervene with any faults detected on the allotments.

The society is responsible for maintaining the allotments placed in its care – including uncultivated allotments – in a scenically tidy condition.

The areas assigned for allotment gardening are public recreation areas, therefore movement on common pathways in the area cannot be restricted.

A society may partially deviate from these Rules in the General Regulations of the society, provided such changes have been approved beforehand by the City of Vantaa.

Also, the society may specify the Rules above in their own General Regulations if such specifications do not contradict the original Rules.

General Regulations of societies cannot include conditions that would place allotment gardeners or allotment applicants in an unequal position (equal treatment).

The allotment gardener is required to maintain his or her allotment cultivated and in a scenically tidy condition. The allotment gardener is also required to take care of his or her allotment and bordering drainage ditches as well as to keep the pathways free by uprooting weeds, mowing the grass and eradicating introduced species.

When planting bushes and plants, room for their growth must be considered. They must not disturb the use of common pathways or cause harm to other allotment gardeners.

After the gardening period has ended, the allotment must be cleaned, and left in such a condition that it can be transferred to another person for gardening if required.

Allotment gardens are intended for cultivating useful and ornamental plants. Planting of berry bushes that do not grow higher than 150 centimeters is also allowed. Planting and growing trees or woody- stemmed ornamental plants is prohibited.

It is allowed to use certified seeds brought from within the European Union provided they are not from an introduced species. Otherwise, the cultivation of imported plants and non-certified seeds is prohibited.

Sowing and planting seeds of any introduced species is strictly prohibited. Introduced species are by origin species not indigenous to Finland that have been classified as harmful (such as lupine, Himalayan balsam and hogweed). The society and allotment gardeners are encouraged to eradicate introduced species detected on the allotments and their surroundings.

Visit the Vieraslajit website to learn more about other invasive species.

All composting waste originating from the allotment must be composted within the rented area. Food waste and non-decomposing waste (plastic, glass, metal) must be removed from the allotment area. Disposing of uprooted plants, brushwood or garbage from the allotment into the surroundings of the allotment area is prohibited.

Only natural fertilizers can be used in cultivating. The use of chemical plant protection products or pesticides is prohibited. Fertilizers must be kept in closed containers or bags.

It is recommended to use covers as they reduce the need for watering. Organic material such as straw, grass, woodchips or mulch can be used as covers.

Building one compost frame and one storage box for tools in a central location on the allotment is allowed. The maximum dimensions of the storage box for tools are 200 × 100 × 100 centimeters (width × height × depth). The compost frame, storage box for tools and a potential water-collection container no larger than 250 liters in volume may be kept on the allotment over winter.

The height of any pallet collars around planting beds may not exceed 40 cm.

A slightly lathed tunnel no higher than 100 cm may be built for pre-cultivation. The tunnel must be removed for the winter.

One portable greenhouse – the height of which may not exceed 150 centimeters and an area of approximately 1 square meter – can be placed on the allotment. The greenhouse must be removed for the winter.

Upon consent of the society, the allotment garden may be fenced with a fence no higher than 120 centimeters. The fences construction must allow for easy dismantling when necessary. The fence can be built of light and discretely colored laminated garden fence or from willow, and it must look tidy and even.

Any plastic materials used on the allotment must be greenhouse plastic intended for cultivation. It is not recommended to use other plastics, as they break easily and end up in the soil and water system.

Building pergolas or any other respective fixed structures of stone, board or wood that are difficult to dismantle is prohibited.

It is prohibited to store on the allotment any construction materials, firewood or other materials not used in gardening.

The use of impregnated timber for building or paving on allotments is prohibited.

One-fifth (20 %) of the allotment garden may be reserved as recreational area. However, the size of the recreational area cannot exceed 9 square meters. The area intended for recreation can be covered by grass or light wooden paving considering other restrictions laid down in these Rules.

The use of light garden furniture as well as folding sunshades on the allotment is allowed. Any furniture must be intact and have a clean general appearance. All furniture must to be removed for the winter or stored centrally.

Portable charcoal barbecues are allowed, if used responsibly and in compliance with any fire warnings applicable at the time. The barbecues must be removed for the winter or stored in the storage box for tools on the allotment.

It is prohibited to make open fire on the allotment. An open fire also refers to other similar uses of fire in which the fire may get out of control, either along the ground or as sparks fly from it. During forest fire warnings making any fire on the allotment is completely prohibited!