From the Back Cover

Dust off your wellies and get ready for reams of deliciousallotment produce

Whether you’re hoping to get a foot on the allotment ladder orneed to rejuvenate a flagging patch, this essential guide will getyou heading in the right direction very quickly. The step by step advice and usefulillustrations will help you organise your plan of attack and growhealthy veg, fruit, herbs and flowers. With handy tips on how tocook the things you’ve grown and useful info on growingorganically, 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 foraction

• Lay the groundwork for success – map out your space, banishweeds and discover ways to look after your soil

• Grow your favourite vegetables – take your pick frompotatoes, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, saladleaves, peas, beans, sweetcorn, artichokes, peppers, aubergines andmore

• Extend your allotment repertoire – move beyond veg tocultivate 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 giantvegetables

Open the book and find:

• What tools and equipment you’ll be able to need

• An allotment calendar, helping making a decision 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 secure 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

About the Author

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.

Allotment Gardening For Dummies is a full of life, 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 the entire 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 in reality 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