Allotment Gardening For Dummies

Allotment Gardening For Dummies is a lively, hands-on guide to getting the most out of your allotment. Whether you're interested in eating fresh, saving money, getting exercise or enjoying wholesome family fun, this is the guide for you. The step-by-step advice takes you through all the stages in the process, from securing an allotment and preparing your plot, to choosing what to grow and enjoying the benefits of abundant fresh food and a sociable and healthy hobby. With over 50 handy line drawings, plus information on how to grow organic and advice on storing and cooking the food you grow, this guide really does have it all!

Allotment Gardening For Dummies includes:

Part 1: Getting to Grips with Allotment Gardening
Chapter 1: What Are Allotments All About?
Chapter 2: Getting hold of an Allotment
Chapter 3: Getting Started

Part 2: Preparing for Allotment Success
Chapter 4: Deciding What to Grow, When
Chapter 5: Preparing Your Plot
Chapter 6: Keeping Your Soil Healthy
Chapter 7: Keeping Your Plants Healthy
Chapter 8: Growing Organic

Part 3: Growing a Few of Your Favourite Vegetables
Chapter 9: Going Underground
Chapter 10: The Staples
Chapter 11: Growing Leafy Greens
Chapter 12: Planting Peas, Beans and Other Pods
Chapter 13: Growing More Exotic Veg

Part 4: Extending Your Allotment Repetoire
Chapter 14: Growing Wholesome Herbs
Chapter 15: Growing Fruitful Fruit
Chapter 16: Nurturing Flowers on an Allotment

Part 5: Getting the Most Out of Your Allotment
Chapter 17: Involving Children Around the Allotment
Chapter 18: Hobnobbing with Allotment Society
Chapter 19: Growing Giant Veg

Part 6: The Part of Tens Chapter
Chapter 20: Ten Common Accidents and How to Prevent Them
Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Revive a Flagging Allotment

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting to Grips with Allotment Gardening 7

Chapter 1: Discovering What Allotments Are All About 9

Chapter 2: Getting Hold of an Allotment 17

Part II: Preparing for Allotment Success 25

Chapter 3: Getting Started 27

Chapter 4: Deciding What to Grow and When 43

Chapter 5: Preparing Your Plot 57

Chapter 6: Keeping Your Soil Healthy 77

Chapter 7: Keeping Your Plants Healthy 97

Chapter 8: Growing Organic 125

Part III: Growing Your Favourite Vegetables 139

Chapter 9: Going Underground with Root Vegetables 141

Chapter 10: Exploring More Root Vegetables 161

Chapter 11: Bringing Home the Brassicas 175

Chapter 12: Growing Wholesome Herbs 195

Chapter 13: Cultivating Everyday Essentials 215

Chapter 14: Growing Leafy Greens 245

Chapter 15: Planting Beans, Peas and Other Odds and Pods 265

Chapter 16: Growing More Unusual Veg 285

Part IV: Extending Your Allotment Repertoire 307

Chapter 17: Growing Fruitful Fruit 309

Chapter 18: Nurturing Flowers on an Allotment 339

Part V: Getting the Most Out of Your Allotment 355

Chapter 19: Involving Children on the Allotment 357

Chapter 20: Hobnobbing with Allotment Society 371

Chapter 21: Entering the World of Giants 379

Part VI: The Part of Tens 395

Chapter 22: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 397

Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Revive a Flagging Allotment 405

Index 411

Sven Wombwell is a garden and allotment expert. He starred in BBC1's Garden Invaders series, presenting with Charlie Dimmock, and has featured on GMTV, This Morning and UKTV Style Gardens, amongst other programmes. Alongside his media commitments, Sven designs gardens around the globe.

Dust off your wellies and get ready for reams of delicious allotment produce

Whether you're hoping to get a foot on the allotment ladder or need to rejuvenate a flagging patch, this essential guide will get you on track in no time. The step-by-step advice and useful illustrations will help you organise your plan of attack and grow healthy veg, fruit, herbs and flowers. With handy tips on how to cook the things you've grown and useful info on growing organically, allotment gardening doesn't get easier than this!

• Get to grips with the basics – unearth the perfect plot, swot up on allotment rules and regs and prepare your tools for action

• Lay the groundwork for success – map out your space, banish weeds and learn how to look after your soil

• Grow your favourite vegetables – take your pick from potatoes, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, salad leaves, peas, beans, sweetcorn, artichokes, peppers, aubergines and more

• Extend your allotment repertoire – move beyond veg to cultivate delicious fruit, zesty herbs and attractive flowers

• Get the most out of your allotment – involve the kids, enjoy allotment social life and impress your mates with giant vegetables

Open the book and find:

• What tools and equipment you'll need

• An allotment calendar, helping you decide what to grow, when

• The best ways to kill weeds, fight disease and deter pests

• How to keep your soil healthy

• Cooking tips for allotment produce

• Advice on creating your own compost heap

• Simple and safe projects for kids

• How to prevent common allotment disasters

• Ways to revive a tired allotment

Learn to:

• Navigate waiting lists and find the best patch for you

• Prepare your soil to encourage tip-top growth

• Plant a huge range of fruit, veg, herbs and flowers

• Grow organically and get the most from your space