Some materials in Swedish, Russian, and Arabic provided as PDFs at the foot of the page! 🠋

Joining

Dreaming of your very own urban garden?

We regret to inform you that there is currently a waiting list but a few plots become available every year!

Want to join the waiting list? Please let us know by emailing us at:

Rules of the allotment garden

By accepting the offered allotment, you agree to comply with the rules set by both the city of Helsinki and Ogelin plantaasit ry. The board of Ogelin Plantaasit ry (the society running the allotment garden) supervises adherence to these rules.

Use, care, and maintenance

General city of Helsinki guidelines can be found as a PDF below!

The plot must be culivated and maintained.

The allotment may only be used for its intended use: growing crops and ornamentals. No other use is permitted.

The plot must be weeded regularly.

You must start your season no later than Midsummer each year.

Beds and plants must be positioned so that they do not inconvenience others and can be tended to from within your own plot.

The use of chemical plant protection, herbicides and pesticides is prohibited.

Open fires are not allowed on the plot. Burning trash or other waste is not permitted.

You are responsible for mowing the grassy edges of your allotment as well as the edges of adjacent ditches and walking paths. The society and the city of Helsinki maintain the larger walkways and dredge the larger ditches mechanically.

If you neglect your plot or if you break any rules, the board may issue a warning. If the plot remains untended or if you continue to break the rules after the warning, your membership and plot lease may be terminated at the board's discretion.

You must inform the board if you intend to discontinue gardening at the allotment.

The landlord, i.e., the city of Helsinki, may also inspect the leased areas and report any neglect or deficiencies, setting a deadline for corrections.

Restrictions regarding plants

Trees and large woody perennials are not permitted. The only exceptions are berries (for instance currants, raspberries and the like). These are to be kept at a maximum height of approximately 1.5 m. If unsure, please contact the board at palsta.ogelinplantaasit@gmail.com before planting!

Perennials must be planted at a sufficient distance from ditches. Larger perennials, such as currants, must be planted at least 1.2 meters from the plot boundary.

Please familiarise yourself with the city of Helsinki's guidelines on invasive species (PDF below).

Structures, larger items, and such

You may build a small compost frame and a storage box for tools and the like.

You may use a temporary garden fleece or tunnel (max height half a meter) early in the season to protect seedlings.

Wooden raised bed frames (max 1 x 1.2 m) are allowed but they must be in contact with the soil underneath.

All structures mentioned above must be placed at least 30 cm from the plot boundary.

Other permanent structures such as greenhouses, pallets, pergolas, or paving are not permitted.

Composting and waste management

All compostable waste generated while gardening should be composted on the plot.

Composting household waste, such as food scraps, is not permitted.

Any non-compostable waste you produce, such as plastic packaging, must be removed from the area and disposed of properly off-site.

Watering

NOTE! The water from the taps in the allotment area is not potable!

Taps are open from 6 am to 11 pm during summer season.

In the spring, the water pump is turned on once the floodwaters of the river subside and the water clears up. The timing depends on weather conditions.

Always remember to turn off the tap after use, even if the pump has been turned off after 11 pm.

The most important watering-related rules concern watering hoses. Please observe the following when using a hose:

If using a nozzle: When you are done with watering, the water must be turned off from the tap, not from the nozzle! You may damage the pump if you leave the tap running but turn off your nozzle.
Hoses must be returned to your plot after watering. Please, do not leave them lying in ditches, on pathways or other areas where they can obstruct movement and constitute a trip hazard.
Hoses left on walkways for extended periods of time may be removed without notice.
The connector with which you attach the hose to the tap must be in good condition and not leak.
One of the two outlets of each tap must be available for those using watering cans.
If there is a long queue at the tap, please be considerate and disconnect your hose as soon as possible. During peak hours, you should not exceed 30 minutes of continuous watering.
The use of sprinklers is not allowed.