Grow your own organic fruit and vegetables with this practical guide to setting up and maintaining an allotment garden. Allotments provide a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and become more self-sufficient, growing fresh produce to cook with. But getting started on your plot can sometimes feel a bit daunting. Written by garden designer Susan Berger and illustrated throughout with drawings and photographs, Allotment Gardening is packed with advice on growing and maintaining your allotment garden - from choosing and planning your allotment through to harvesting and storing your produce. The first half of this handy guide discusses allotment basics, such as what tools to buy and how to plan and clear your site. Susan then shares useful information on crop rotation, planting and how to protect plants against pests and harsh weather. She also looks at design and growing techniques, including feeding plants, mulching, saving seeds and supporting plants, and how to prevent and cope with common problems. The second half of the book focuses on the cultivation of individual fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs, along with recommendations for particular varieties chosen for their flavour, and ideas for companion planting. There are detailed instructions on how to store produce efficiently, as well as tips on herb usage. Each fruit and vegetable entry features an easy recipe to help you make the most of your fresh produce, such as pea soup, Frizzled Brussels Sprouts, Sautéed Kohl Rabi, jam and pudding. Ideal for beginner gardeners growing on their first site, Allotment Gardening also includes a gardener's calendar with monthly activities, and a directory of seed suppliers and useful organisations.

Susan Berger is a garden designer, writer and allotment gardener. She trained at the English Gardening School at the Chelsea Physic Garden, and, before retiring, ran a successful garden design company. Her garden has been featured in The Sunday Times, Gardens Illustrated and Marie Claire Maison.

Part One: Getting Started
- Intoduction
- Tools of the Trade
- Planning the Site
- Crop Rotation
- Clearing the Ground
- Soil Types
- Improving the Soil
- Sowing and Planting
- Protecting your Plants
- Design
- Cultivation
- Harvesting and Storing
- Gardener's Calendar

Part Two: A-Z of Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs and Flowers
- Introduction
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Herbs
- Flowers
- Troubleshooting

Useful Addresses
Main Index
Index of Recipes