For Newbies
From Allotments4All
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:
There are, of course, non-A4A growers whose websites are worth reading. They include:
- Gavin Keir - pages on allotment techniques are particularly useful
- London Road Allotment Association (Coventry) - useful brief notes on cultivation, including a garden calendar
- 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.
