Newbie book recommendations

[Nicola.P]

Hi All,

After a 6 year wait I have just been told I have finally got an allotment. It is 2.5 rods so a good starting size.
However I am new to veg growing and allotments and I wondered if anyone has any recommendations on any good books I can get to learn from and use as a reference as I go.

Thanks

Nicola

[KevinM67]

I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to veg-growing books, cheap bookstores in town and Amazon are my downfall.

A good book for a newbie (in my opinion) is "The Half Hour Allotment" by Lia Leendertz of the RHS.

Although the book focuses on small jobs to get on with at the allotment during your daily half-hour shift there - if you forget all that, it is actually a great practical book for a starter.

[KevinM67]

I forgot to add - a six year wait for an allotment !!!

I really hope you enjoy it - it's a great time of the year for taking one on (weather permitting).

[veggiechicken]

Does this help ? http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...out_76922.html

[Nicola.P]

Thank you both. I will have a look at that book and the other post.

Yes 6 yrs, I forgot I was even on the list until I got the call today. I found my original post on here from when I went on the list and it was Nov 2008.

[Lumpy]

Nicola - that's brilliant you have got one - it's a brilliant time to get one as well. Enjoy

[Aberdeenplotter]

The National Vegetable Society has a nice book "Getting started on the Allotment". Available to non members as well. Costs £3.99. May be available from the NVS website but not certain. Today, I donated that one and another "Getting started on the Showbench" to a schools group who are providing planters and seeds to local schools so that they can grow veg for a pot of soup and who intend having a show at the end of the season so that the schools can display what they have grown. I'm all in favour of encouraging the kids. The biggie I had to point out today was that vegetables don't look after themselves during school holidays!!

[Lumpy]

I really like The Readers Digest Guide To Allotment and Home Vegetable Growing - or a title similar to that. I got my copy from A*****on and it was very cheap.

[WendyC]

Andi Clevely "The Allotment Book" is good on what to plant when. Also v cheap on A****n.

[Martin H]

You don't need books, you've got us!

[Mark Lottie]

You really cant go wrong with Dr Hessayon



I have the 30 year old version that is still relevant but I looked through the newer one recently (about £7) and it's fantastic. Loads more herbs and veg that the modern grower is likely to actually use.

Other than that, I'd just use the internet as there are tonnes of decent sites/blogs out there in addition to this place

[WPG]

I was just about the recommend the same book as Mark - for such a slim unassuming book it really does cover just about everything you need to know about growing all sorts of veg (herbs too, though I haven't read those pages). I got my copy in Homebase, think it was around a fiver at the time.

[Mikey]

It won't matter what book you get it isn't a patch on the knowledge here. I would borrow some from your local library for the time being, make a list of what you want to do, need to know then search and ask questions here for anything you can't find an answer to.

I like pictures books mainly, as I often get bored reading through endless text and switch off. If you are organised books are great, but you can simplify it all by answering a few questions.

What do I want to grow?
What veg do you eat most?
What is too expensive to buy but, you would like to?
How much time a week/month can you give it realistically?
Now if you have a family halve that number!
What condition is the plot in, and how much have you got to do to get started?
Are you prepared to be exhausted while you tame the beast that is likely to be your plot!!!

There will be other factors, specific to the site, how open it is, does it get good light, what's the drainage like, are there any troublesome weeds, the type of soil you have, we all desire black gold but few of us actually have it.

You might find you want a book on raised beds, or no dig method of growing. You might want to grow flowers and companion plants, some books give this more content than others. Every book will give you some knowledge but, none will give you it all.

[muddled]

I agree that this forum is the best resource, anwsers (often within minutes) from real gardeners with imperfect soil and conditions.

But being a book lover and having to share this laptop with the whole family I would reccommend 'How to grow vegetables' by Joy Larkcom.

I keep it in my lottie tool bag and refer to it often when actually working my plot. She gives all that really useful info...planting depths and distances, times, plans, how many you'll need and so on.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Another vote for the Dr Hessayon books I have 3 editions though I have to say I don't refer to them much since I became a member here.