One Man and his Dig

by:Valentine Low

When I first got this book, I thought it was going to be a London view of allotments by a middle class member of the chattering classes. The author being a journalist, I wondered if he even had a plot.

Well, what a pleasant surprise I had. It's a really enjoyable easy read. It's not a "how to" book or a dry discourse on the benefits of allotments, it's one of the best descriptions of what makes allotments wonderful that I've read. There are some facts, especially regarding the decline in allotments, but they don't detract from the story.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Vegetable Growing Month by Month

by:John Harrison

OK, I'll come clean and declare my interest! I wrote this and I'm a bit biased. Well extemely proud of it to be truthful.

It's aimed firstly at the new vegetable grower but there are tips and tricks that I think will help even more experienced gardeners. It's not a coffee table book, no full colour photographs or exotic ideas, just basic advice I'd give to another grower on the allotment.

For a full chapter list and to buy a signed copy direct, click this Vegetable Growing Month by Month or for a discount follow the Amazon link to the right.

Go on - it's not expensive and you won't be sorry! At 256 pages it's just over 2p a page!

You Are What You Grow

by:Antonia Swinson

You Are What You Grow is a first collection of newspaper columns from the first lady of allotmenteering, Antonia Swinson. It is an inspiration even to those who don't tend so much as a window box.
Adressing issues such as land ownership and organic produce, Swinson offers a fascinating take on the challenges facing an allotmenteer in thenorthern climes of Edinburgh.  You Are What You Grow presents the humble allotment as a metaphor for how we live our lives today.

Close to the Veg

by:Michael Rand

At first glance a book about allotment holding may seem to be very frugal fare indeed but not so in this case. First off, this is not just about the many and varied pleasures that the tending of an allotment can bring; it's also a semi-autobiographical and frequently hilarious, meandering stroll with Mick through life"s tribulations, as well as being incredibly informative on such subjects as organic growing and natural history.
So, if you?re into allotments you?ll love this and if you?re not, you?ll still get much pleasure from it (I bet you?re dying to know about the Swedish Rastafarian), and I guarantee you?ll keep it on your bookshelf . But don?t lend it out to anyone, make 'em buy their own copy.
Well done Michael!

Amazon Review

The Allotment Handbook

by:Sophie Andrews

A great book for people just starting out or thinking about getting an allotment.I am a complete allotment beginner and the monthly things to do section is immensly useful to get me organised. The detailed section about what to grow is also very informative. The only downside of this book is the lack of pictures and colour. All in all a very useful book. Thankyou.

Amazon Review

The A-Z of Allotment Vegetables

by:Caroline Foley

"The A-Z of Allotment Vegetables" is full of essential information on all the best known vegetable varieties, as well as numerous exotic and lesser-known ones. The main part of the book is the vegetable directory, which tells you everything you need to know about the different vegetable varieties, including information on sowing and planting, cultivation, problems, varieties, and cooking.

Many of the vegetable varieties are illustrated in a special colour section, which accompanies the vegetable directory. A delightful chapter on growing for showing explains the history and traditions of exhibiting at flower shows and is followed by useful chapters on gardening techniques and pest and disease control. Packed full of information and with useful tips throughout, this book is essential reading for every allotment gardener.

The Allotment Book

by:Andi Clevely

A wonderfully illustrated celebration of the blood, sweat and joy to be had 'growing your own' in an allotment - with the in-depth, practical gardening know-how Collins is renowned for. No longer considered the preserve of old men in sheds, allotment gardening is currently enjoying a renaissance of interest. People of all ages and from all walks of life are digging their own plots in search of the ultimate in fresh, organic produce - and you cannot get more locally-sourced than your own allotment!

This book testifies to the new vibrancy of allotment culture, aiming both to inspire the next generation of plot-holders and to provide all the practical knowledge needed to turn a patch of soil into a lifelong adventure. Open to all the new eco-gardening techniques, and the various weird and wonderful ways people make use of their plots, contents include: the history of allotments - from 19th century origins, through wartime 'Dig for Victory', to the cosmopolitan communities of today; features photos and interviews with current plot-holders; planning your perfect allotment - finding it, assessing it, clearing the ground and working out what to grow the brown stuff - all you need to know about soil management.

It also features the key to growing success choosing a gardening method - organic, biodynamic, rotation beds, companion planting, greenhouse, multi-level, potager, cottage garden, and so on. The hard stuff - constructing sheds, compost bins, cold frames, fruit cages, ponds, seating and play areas selecting crops - what and how to grow, from parsnips and peas to chilli peppers and lemon grass cultivation techniques - digging, sowing, feeding, weeding and harvesting, plus troubleshooting pests and diseases the allotment calendar - extensive, month-by-month look at what's in season, jobs for now and looking ahead.

Allotment Gardening

by:Susan Berger

A well laid out basic guide to getting started on an allotment.

Includes a calendar, details for individual fruit and veg, recipes, useful

suppliers and addresses. Very accessible and user-friendly. The best I

have read yet.

 Reviewed by: Wendy Smith

Allotment Folk

by:Chris Opperman

Profiling the unique obsessions and preoccupations of over 40 British allotmenteers, young and old, this book dispels the myth that there's no more to allotments than home-grown vegetables, compost, weeding and an over-abundance of tomato seedlings.
Featuring everything from oversized marrows and dye plants to pampered rabbits and bees to allotments as performance art, along with the amazing and usually eccentric people behind them, this book is a humourous celebration of the diversity, industry and comedy that pervades the modern allotment community. Each story is accompanied by revealing photographs of the allotmenteer and his or her "patch".
Suggested by Katt - Many Thanks!

Successful Allotments: Green Essentials - Organic Guides

by:Pauline Pears

Historically an important social tradition, allotments are now increasingly popular with a younger audience and with families who want to try growing their own organic produce. Here we show you how to go about finding an allotment, what to grow, how to maintain interest and get the most benefit from being an allotment holder. No previous gardening experience is assumed and everything is presented in a simple, step-by-step style. Successful Allotments is endorsed by the HDRA and the Soil Association, so you know you can trust all the organic advice.

I met Pauline Pears many years ago when she was at Bocking - I don't suppose she will remember being famous and all! Nice one, Pauline - if you read this.