Topic: Worst Allotment/Gardening Book?

[OllieC]

Okay, I don't think we've done this one, if so then not for a while. Any idiot can write a good book about gardening, but to write something truly awful takes pure unadulterated genius.

So, what's your most useless allotment or gardening book? For me the finalists were that half hour allotment one and the A-Z of Allotment Vegetables by Caroline Foley (I've learnt more useful gardening tips from reading seed packets than I have from either book) .

And the winner is...
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.
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That Stupid Half Hour one - which gained extra points for being not only untrue, but also completely missing the point! Although the A-Z was pretty useless, I did learn one or two things about the history of vegetables. Useless but interesting!

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

what I hate about gardening books, particularly ones about designing your garden - is you see the covers and the introduction, and it looks as though it's new, and them you look at it more closely and it was first published in the 70's (for instance) concrete, crazy paving and loon pants

[Rixy]

Any gardening book claiming to be for the "small" garden.  I think the authors/publishers have a very warped view of exactly what constitutes a small garden.  When I say small I mean 3mx3m  when they say small they mean something around a 1/3rd of an acre   :D

[caroline7758]

Have to say \I was disappointed with Caroline Foley's Allotment Handbook. It often seems to be recommended but I found as a beginner, it didn't give enough "nitty gritty" about how to grow and look after the plants, spacing etc. I find I don't often look at it.

Besides, who needs books when we've got A4A? :D

[good7saint]

Do rely on one book mainly, mentioned on another thread.
But get most of my advice from one of my lottie neighbours.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Any of the many picture books that just repeat the same tired old stuff. The gardening section at the library has lots of them.

[Hyacinth]

Any of the many picture books that just repeat the same tired old stuff. The gardening section at the library has lots of them.

ditto years-old mags at Doctors Surgeries ;D

[robkb]

Have to say \I was disappointed with Caroline Foley's Allotment Handbook.

I quite like the Allotment Handbook, but most of her other books seem to be flogging yet another variation of it.

Agree about the Half Hour Allotment - seemed like a good idea for someone like me with limited time for the plot, but seemed to be a manual for cutting corners.

Any gardening book claiming to be for the "small" garden.  I think the authors/publishers have a very warped view of exactly what constitutes a small garden.  When I say small I mean 3mx3m  when they say small they mean something around a 1/3rd of an acre   :D

I've got a book by the Duchess of Hamilton called "Native Trees and shrubs for your garden" - good book, full of interesting facts but absolutely  useless unless your garden is several (hundred) acres!

My personal biggest waste of money was a fat hardback called Dig by Meredith Something. Was very glossy, almost completely devoid of any useful information and to make matters worse was a British publication of a book written for the New Zealand market! It sat collecting dust for a while then went to the charity shop.   

Cheers,
Rob ;)