Product Description

A wonderfully illustrated celebration of the blood, sweat and joy to be had 'growing your own' in an allotment - with the in-depth, practical gardening know-how Collins is renowned for. No longer considered the preserve of old men in sheds, allotment gardening is currently enjoying a renaissance of interest. People of all ages and from all walks of life are digging their own plots in search of the ultimate in fresh, organic produce - and you cannot get more locally-sourced than your own allotment! This book testifies to the new vibrancy of allotment culture, aiming both to inspire the next generation of plot-holders and to provide all the practical knowledge needed to turn a patch of soil into a lifelong adventure. Open to all the new eco-gardening techniques, and the various weird and wonderful ways people make use of their plots, contents include: the history of allotments - from 19th century origins, through wartime 'Dig for Victory', to the cosmopolitan communities of today; features photos and interviews with current plot-holders; planning your perfect allotment - finding it, assessing it, clearing the ground and working out what to grow the brown stuff - all you need to know about soil management. It also features the key to growing success choosing a gardening method - organic, biodynamic, rotation beds, companion planting, greenhouse, multi-level, potager, cottage garden, and so on. The hard stuff - constructing sheds, compost bins, cold frames, fruit cages, ponds, seating and play areas selecting crops - what and how to grow, from parsnips and peas to chilli peppers and lemon grass cultivation techniques - digging, sowing, feeding, weeding and harvesting, plus troubleshooting pests and diseases the allotment calendar - extensive, month-by-month look at what's in season, jobs for now and looking ahead.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199408 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Publishing News, March 2006
The ideal handbook for the allotment beginner.

The Daily Mail, Dec 1, 2006
'Clear and concise, it will take pride of place in your garden shed'

The Daily Telegraph, December 2, 2006
'an excellent book for a beginner'

Customer Reviews

a great book for all gardeners
I've had an allotment for years and got this book as a present but I've never put it on the shelf since. Andi Clevely is a great read and the book is laid out so well I can dip into it so easily to find the right information. It has definitely inspired me to try some crops which I haven't grown before, like aubergine and chillies. The calendar section is partciularly useful for its 'last chance to sow' and 'planning ahead' features, and has some useful recipes. I would recommend this book for allotmenters new and old, as well as kitchen gardeners.

Time to get your wellies on..
I have always wanted to grow my own, but I've never had the confidence to go for it.

This book gives you detailed tables of sowing and planting times, seasonal guides,advice on sellecting what to grow and even the odd recipe too. It is written in a clear and concise fashion, with lots of helpfull (and pretty) photographs.
I particularly like the seasonal guides as they have "Sow Now; Plant Now; In Season Now" in one quick reference column at the start of the "chapter".

It answers every question that a virgin allotment holder could ask. I would highly recommend it.

Complete idiots guide for the uninitiated
I have always wanted to have a go at growing my own veg but quite frankly did not know where to start. I needed a book that would spell out the basics, give me pictures and provide a detailed calendar showing when I should be doing what.
This book is perfect. It is well written, the directions are clear and the pictures informative. It is already well thumbed and next year I will be better! Congratulations to the author.