Topic: Allotment gardening books?

[Plottie]

Hi everyone
New to allotment gardening and looking for a good beginners guide - 'allotments for dummies' type! Does anyone know of any good books they could recommend?
Many thanks
 

[derbex]

Not sure about allotment specific books, but I use the Which? Guide to growing Veg. and an old copy of the RHS organic book. If you've a decent library near you I'd head there and see what you can find -gives you a chance to 'try before you buy'.

Jeremy.

[Doris_Pinks]

Hate to say it cos I am sure there are non likers out there, but Dr D G Hessayons, The Vegetable Expert, is a basic, easy to understand how to grow veg  book, or the one By Lucy Peel, who's title escapes me, but will find out and amend later!
Welcome btw janetandruss!  Dottie P.

[GardnerJ]

Hi
I have a great one from amazon.co.uk
it is by caroline foley i can't remember the name of it but i think it is just called allotment gardening. I have got a few others from amazon, one is an allotment guide which i can't wait for! when you go on  there it will come up with books to compliment the one you buy which is great cause sometimes you will get a really good one! Good luck let me know if you get a good one? Jemma x :-*

[Doris_Pinks]

Can I jst remind....... if you are going to Amazon, don't forget to go through the link below to help this site!

[gavin]

Hi Janet and Russ - just a couple to add?

The Organic Allotment - Anne Algar; useful and practical advice for starting an allotment, especially the earlier chapters.   Out of print, but still available.
Grow Your Own Vegetables - Joy Larkcom; indispensable.   Comprehensive, and good reading.   A firm and trustworthy favourite!

Second hand bookshops can be as good a source as libraries?

And (oh dear, another hobby horse!) - Amazon (through the link on A4A) ------ or a local independent bookseller?

All best - Gavin

[Multiveg]

I would second Joy Larkcom's book. Also, I like The Kitchen Garden Month by Month by Andi Clevely, which is available in some of the cheap/clearance bookshops. As for magazines - try reading Kitchen Garden Magazine which is out monthly, and should be available in all good WHSmiths, and some Morrisons, etc....

[Lady Cosmos]

Hi, if you start to work in a allotment you can't go wrong with:
The vegetable & herb expert- Dr D.G.Hessayons-ISBN 0007146566
Kitchen garden-Lucy Peel-ISBN 0903505460
The Allotment Handbook-Caroline Foley -about 9pound
Practical Allotment Gardening: a guide to growing fruit,vegetables and herbs on your plot-Caroline Foley-about 9 pound
Those books make gardening on your allotment very easy. ;D ;D ;D
Show how the seed and seedling, tell you when to sow, how to prepare the soil etc.   Very Handy :D :D

[Plottie]

 Thanks for these suggestions - as complete novices to gardening on the scale of an allotment we just want something to support us through it - looking forward to having a look at some of your suggestions and can't wait to get started on the plot (we're choosing one from a number of available ones this weekend)
 J&R

[Mimi]

Doris, You are not related to a certain Mr D.C on the beeb are you?? ;)

[Doris_Pinks]

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT MIMI?!!! ;D  I ALWAYS TYPE LIKE THIS! ;D

[Mimi]

 ;D