Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Leeds Lad on November 14, 2006, 20:45:17
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I’ve also taken delivery of a plot, 30m x 8m, which has been left for a year. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a few books I could read over winter? ? I intend to use raised beds to grow my stuff in and have already worked out a plan, I’m an engineer and have drawn the plot on my CAD system, sad eh?
Leeds Lad
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Welcome to You Leeds lad . There plenty of books in the shop on this site all look very good .
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hi there both!
i was up at "my" new lottie looking at the waiting list today. I am now 11th !! wooo hoo. Well compared to 16th where I was for ages, 11th doesn't sound so bad.
When I first got the bug at the beginning of this season, I bought The Allotment Handbook, The Half Hour Allotment and Practical Allotment Gardening all of which were good to dip in and out of. I have learnt so much from the kind people on A4A though and I would say they were my first reference point.
Welcome aboard, and don't forget the pictures Leeds Lad.
;D
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Hi to you all we have a few good books vegetable gardeners bible by edward c smith gardening under plastic by bernard salt but our bible for lotties is bob flowerdew used so much its in a poor state have to put a birthday order in for a new one...some people find him weird but it suits us, we like weird...good to here about the raised beds...we are also sad and planned our site out on computer first the link below will take you to our allotments only a small private site 8 half sized plots ...since the land owners built a new club house over 4 of our full sized plots & access road and squashed us into a corner all the best with your plot far easier with raised beds
http://www.parksidearlfc.co.uk/sports_and_community_club/
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The book I always turn back to for advice is Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom. VERY comprehensive and HIGHLY recommended, no pictures though...
I also have The Allotment Book by Andi Clevely and The Great Vegetable Plot by Sarah Raven (lovely pictures).
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hello and welcome leeds lad :)
I'd second dandelion's choice too
more suggestions here
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,17979.0
happy growing! ;D
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Where to begin!!! Books are great, but this lot will tell you quicker than you can read it!
;D
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Welcome Leeds lad.
A book I have found useful is The Vegetable and Herb Expert by Dr D.G.Hessayon
It tells you about spacings, when to sow and plant, diseases and also how long each sort of seed can be stored for. It's really good as a quick reference book.
As everyone says though this site is wonderful and especially when you need answers to things that might not be in a book.
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The book I always turn back to for advice is Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom. VERY comprehensive and HIGHLY recommended, no pictures though...
spot on, me too
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If you want something a bit different try:
Allotted Time: Twelve Months, Two Blokes, One Shed, No Idea
It's a good read and you pick up practical advice as you go along - also has appendices with quite a lot of factual info.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,88888889/ (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,88888889/)
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:) Hi LL and welcome I would recommend 'ALLOTMENT GARDENING an organic guide for beginners by Susan Berger' it is a godsend, its on amazon. co.uk it only took about a week to arrive about £6 +pp good luck hope you do better than your team. lol ;D ;D ;D ;D
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:) I would recommend 'ALLOTMENT GARDENING an organic guide for beginners by Susan Berger' it is a godsend
I agree, it's my fave book that i've bought so far. The Veg & Herb Expert from Dr Hessayon is on my xmas list, as is the one by Joy Larkham - both highly recommended apparently.
Good luck with your new plot!
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The Allotment Handbook BY Caroline Foley. Excellent for beginners and novices. Step by step guide to everything you will need to know - pests, weeds, compost, vegetables and fruits, hints and tips, how to prepare and plan your plot. Plus tons of other stuff. Very easy reading. Good value at £12.99 ;)
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Hi Leeds Lad and welcome here!
One answer, one question:
A: My most-used book for almost everything allotment related is the HDRA Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening (editor Pauline Pears).
Q: AutoCAD or SolidWorks?
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Welcome Leeds Lad.
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just sneaked a peak and Joy Larcom and Botanica are in my christmas stocking.
happy christmas me !!!
;D
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I'd add my vote for Dr Hessayon. I found Caroline Foley's Allotment handbook useful but as a complete beginner it didn't have as much basic info as Dr Hessayon on depth, spacing etc.
I really enjoyed "Allotted Time" as a good read.
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I'm sure I'm not the only one who heard some recommendations on GQT just now.Thought the list might be on the website but it's not, however the favourite of both presenters was The Allotment Book by Andy Cleveley (might be spelt wrong). You can always lsiten again online or on Wednesday.
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Hessayon is very informative, but also, I think, skewed. The books are altogether too keen to get everyone to use chemicals. It needs to be balanced by other books. I particularly like Bob Flowerdew's 'Organic Bible and 'No-Work Garden'.
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I just got that no-work garden book - really glad I did! :D
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Welcome, from an Armley Lass! :)
I've always found Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom very helpful, but the Hessayon book has also had its uses as it includes plant diseases etc with each group of vegetables, with pics you can use to compare with your plants: sometimes the words just aren't enough :)
Best regards,
Sue
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I've always found Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom very helpful, but the Hessayon book has also had its uses
Have to agree with you Sue, two excellent books, although I think GYO can be overwhelming for the absolute beginner, wotta lotta info!
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Many thanks for the ideas, I think I'll have a good library by the end of next month!!
Managed to get hold of a supply of 6" x 1" wood for my raised beds, so I'm busy at the moment building, when I get it looking something like I'll up load some before and after photos.
AutoCad at the moment but moving over to Solid Works in the new year.
LLjavascript:replaceText(' :)', document.forms.postmodify.message);
Smiley
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Hi Leeds lad. I'm a Bradford girl and just got my allotment on sunday. It was all planted up as the owner is terminally ill (bit bitter sweet thing really!!). I asked the person who had the plot next to me and was told to pull everything up, so have just got a few sprouts left to go at. I hope I did right. is yours a mess?
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AutoCad at the moment but moving over to Solid Works in the new year.
OH is on SolidWorks and is a big fan :)
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How does that work - No work garden book ::)
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It's more a question of less work.
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Yes, no-dig doesn't mean no work - just different work! :)