Revision as of 09:07, 16 November 2009

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Where to find initial advice to get going

If you are new to allotmenting and to growing then you are probably on the look-out for some initial advice and guidance to get you going. While there are plenty of books that you can buy - frequently under the names of celebrity gardeners - it is possible to find much useful advice from experienced plot holders on the internet. These individuals often provide more solid, realistic and pragmatic information than the celebrities.

As a starter, apart from the information here on the A4A wiki, there are a reasonable number of contributors to Allotments4All who have their own web sites which contain much useful information for the newbie. Here is a selection:

• Eristic – particularly good at clearance and first year cultivation plus the growing of some of the more unusual crops

• Sunningdale Allotments – includes "new to allotment?" and approaches pages plus lots of links to other sites

• Realfood - comprehensive site on fruit and veg growing by a Scottish grower with an emphasis on cultivation in the north of the British Isles

• Tee Gee - experienced Yorkshire grower who covers fruit, veg and ornamentals, some of which are displayed in slide show format. There is also a comprehensive FAQ section and photo album.

Meanwhile, the following contributors veer more towards a diary format with excellent pictures:

• vegmandan

• allaboutliverpool.

There are, of course, non-A4A growers whose websites are worth reading. They include:

• Gavin Keir - pages on allotment techniques are very useful, as are his other pages.

• ARI's plot holder guide - contains general background information on allotments (but nothing on actual cultivation)

Finally, click here to find out how one newbie got on during her first year on the plot.