
The Allotment Book
A. M. Clevely(Author)
Collins (Publisher)
Published on 3. April 2006
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-00-720759-6 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
With dust jacket
Illustrations
col. Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 252 mm
Width: 195 mm
Weight
927 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-720759-6 (9780007207596)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Andi Clevely has been a working gardener for 34 years. He rebelled from academic life at Oxford (Hons degree in English) to start a gardening career, progressing to the Crown Estate at Windsor Great Park and thereafter employed as a head gardener in private service (initially for J B Priestley and Jacquetta Hawkes, who encouraged early potting-shed writing projects). Now responsible for managing a country estate and sprawling garden, which is gradually being restored as a cottage and forest garden, based on self-sufficiency, eco-friendly and pro-wildlife practices. He has written numerous books and is a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines. Andi was awarded Practical Journalist of the Year 2003 by the Garden Writers' Guild.