[Grif]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place!

Can anyone suggest a good book for the novice Allotment owner?

Another good book is ' Diggers Diary - Tales from the Allotment' by Victor someone.
Not really a book of advice but fun to read and great ideas. At a time when my enthusiam was failing a bit it got right back into it, hence joining this site etc. this site is actually mentioned in it.

Grif

[Ann]

Try your local library, this gives you the chance to look at various books and decide on which one is best for you before spending money.

[GreenOwl]

There was a thread on this not so very long ago:

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=11328

I use both the Dr. Hessayon's Expert Guide and the Reader's Digest A-Z book and would recommend them.  I think Dr. Hessayon's is really good for beginners but trying the local library is a really good idea and then you can decide where to spend your money!

[paintedlady]

... it won't be long before you'll be turning over a new gardening book on the market with an excited grin, which will drop rapidly and you say "oh, this is a BEGINNERS book, I was really looking for something much more substantial"

If you can get to one of the big bookstores like Waterstones, have a browse on what they have on the shelves.  You usually get a feel for something that looks right for you.  It doesn't necessarily mean you have to buy - on your next visit to the library, see if your choice(s) is on the shelf, and if not, put a request in for them to get it for you (might be a copy in another library that they can send for)

[woodsmoke]

'Allotment gardening' by Susan Berger straightforward paperback not expensive includes recipe ideas
Inspiring - Andi Cleveley 'The Allotment Book' (due in paperback next month)
Also very good 'Organic Gardening for the 21st Century'by John Fedor
These are my favourites - recommend you read more than one as they vary alot.

[flowerlady]

This book set me straight ... Brilliant -  it's got all you need to know!!  

"Grow your own Vegetables" Joy Larkcom

[WG.]

Bloke walks in to a Glasgow library.  
"Hiv ye got ony books aboot suicide?"

"Well, we used tae bit nae b*gger taks them back"

[SnooziSuzi]

Apart from Johns book, which I will be buying, I was given a couple of books for Christmas which have so far proven to be very informative and entertaining:

The Allotment Book:  Andi Clevely published by collins
The Allotment Gardener:  Ann Nichol published by Silverdale books.

Having said that, most (90%) of my gardening knowledge I've picked up from this site alone!

[wildeone]

Having said that, most (90%) of my gardening knowledge I've picked up from this site alone!

Thats interesting Suzi ....... have you managed to grow anything yet?        

[sweet nasturtium]

The Allotment Book, by Andi Clevely - as mentioned above, is my favourite.  Better than Carol Klein.  

But no book will teach you how to dig and weed, not even this forum!  When I got my plot I actually got my Dad to come and show me how to do it - daft but true. :oops:  :oops:  :oops:

[WG.]

But no book will teach you how to dig and weed, not even this forum!  

We'll show you what weeds to pull out !  http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=11271  

[sweet nasturtium]

OK OK - I'll have a look at that later. :oops:

Looked at it and it's only got one picture of one weed on it!

[cawdor2001]

Diggers Diary by Victor Osborne is great, good anecdotal stuff and hard to put down, not a practical detail book like Andi Clevely's which i have too, but a very nice read.

Cawdor

[gobs]

Bloke walks in to a Glasgow library.  
"Hiv ye got ony books aboot suicide?"

"Well, we used tae bit nae b*gger taks them back"

     

I've been known to hold onto gardening books from the library for years.  

[scentedstock]

I know a couple who followed the Alan Titchmarsh The Allotment Gardener's Handbook and had great results in the first year.