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Allotment Articles on Growing, using your allotment etc

Hints & Tips, Help, Advice and Views

This is a personal site – feel free to disagree with me! Suggestions, comments and contributions are really welcome.

If you would like to add an article (that will be credited to you) please contact me.

Allotment History - Cultivating a 19th Century Allotment by Lesley Acton

Cultivating an allotment in the 19th Century was a lot harder than it is today but it was the difference between being fed and starvation for the poor

Allotment History - The First Allotments by Lesley Acton

The beginning of allotments as land for the poor in the UK

Allotment History - A Brief History of Allotments in the UK

A brief explanation of what an allotment is and the history of allotments in the UK

Allotment Vegetable Planning Software

An online system for planning your allotment or vegetable plot.

Spanish versus British Allotments, a Comparison Part 1

A comparison of allotments in the UK and Spain by authors Clodagh and Dick Handscombe. This is part one of two.

Spanish versus British Allotments, a Comparison Part 2

A comparison of allotments in the UK and Spain by authors Clodagh and Dick Handscombe. This is part two of two.

Allotment and Garden Health and Safety

Allotments health and safety some tips your Mum might give you! Gardening can be dangerous with a lot of potential for accidents but a few simple things can keep you out of harm's way

Allotment Regeneration at Ford Lane, Crewe

The Ford Lane, Crewe site is looking a load better since it is being regenerated. This show what can be done with committment and a lot of hard work

Allotments and Children - advice on involving children in allotment gardening

If you start children gardening early enough, everyone can enjoy the experience - an article by Tim Love about kids gardening and growing on allotments. Catch them young and keep them gardening for life!

Looking After Your Back - Avoid Back Pain!

Back aches and pains are the bane of the gardener but you can avoid them

The Big Dig - Allotment Gardening TV Program

The Big Dig televison series about allotment gardeners in Highgate London and Cardiff Wales shown on the BBC

Clearing a New Allotment - How to Clear a New Allotment

Clearing a new allotment, where to start with a mass of weeds. Don't worry, you can do it.

How Can Gardeners Cope with Climate Change?

Climate change is bringing the gardener and grower extreme weather, drought followed by flood. How can we cope and grow vegetables in these conditions

How Cuban Practices can Benefit Your Allotment Growing

A tour around Cuba has generated lessons that can benefit gardeners and allotment holders in the UK

Finding an Allotment - Helping you to find your plot

Information to help you find an allotment including a list of council web sites in the UK

Fluorescent Lights for Growing - Grow Lights

Fluorescent grow lights enable you to extend daylength and bring your crops on earlier.

Genetic Modification and Other Developments in Farming

Conventional breeding and selection has created the foods we eat but the promise of genetic modification could be a two edged sword

Genetic Modification and Other Developments in Farming

Assembling my new greenhouse workstation and a review of the product. Overall, I'm very happy with it and think it a useful addition to the greenhouse.

Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain, a book review from Allotment Vegetable Gardening

If you, like me, have dreamt of buying a place in the sun with a little land and living the good life growing vegetables in Spain or Southern France, then one of the questions is how to grow vegetables in a warm climate? This gives you the answers.

Mechanical Rotovators and Cultivators, Mantis and Merry Tiller

Rotovators and mechanical cultivators can save you hours of work. Are they for you?

Merry Tiller Mechanical Rotovator

Wolsley Merry Tiller, using this famous cultivator is a joy when you know how. There is also a printable copy of the Merry Tiller Manual linked to from the page

No Dig Method of Gardening

No Dig Gardening versus conventional autumn digging considered

Organic or Chemical Growing

Organic or Chemical Gardening - is the choice that simple? A personal view

Pesticide Residues in Food Crops from Allotment Vegetable Growing

Some concerns about the pesticide residues found in our food and the effects of chemicals generally on us and the environment

Planning the Allotment or Vegetable Plot

This five part series on planning my allotment plot, written in 2004,will give you some idea of the process. Deciding what to grow and where taking into account the previous crops, lime and manure etc.

Improving Security on Allotments to Combat Vandalism and Theft

Improving security on allotments to combat vandalism and theft, some ideas and suggestions to deter vandals and keep out the bad guys

Small Space Vegetable Gardening by Katie Thear

Small Space Gardening by Katie Thear - growing vegetables in a deep bed. There is never enough space for growing everything you want, even in a large garden or allotment.

The True Cost of Food A Personal Political View

The true cost of food is much greater than the price paid in the supermarket. My contention is that cheap food is produced by the exploitation of both consumer and producer

Vi-Aqua Water Energiser to Promote Plant Growth

Vi-Aqua is a revolutionary method of energising water to help plants absorb more nutrients and thereby promote better growth

Weeds and What To Do - Methods of Controlling Weeds

Different weeds require different methods to control them. Some hints and tips on how to get rid of common and pernicious weeds along with line drawings to help you identify them

Allotment - The City Dwellers bit of Country

Everyone has a right to work a bit of land to grow their own food. Although one allotment will not produce even close to enough food for personal self sufficiency it is surprising how much it can contribute

Allotment Journey - A Step to Sustainable Living

I envisage allotments becoming communal systems, without individual ownership. People will be united by a shared vision to care for the land and will recognise that cooperation rather than competition makes living easier for everyone.

Allotments - Some Tips to Get You Started

If you cannot grow in your back garden find the allotment site that is as close to you as possible and put your name down.

Hidden Dangers in Our Food

The pressure for cheap food has resulted in more factory farming, use of pestides etc and this trend may be more dangerous than we realise

Articles about Gardening and Growing Vegetables in Spain

Richard and Clodagh Handscombe run the Gardening in Spain web site and these are some of their recent articles about growing in the sun.

You Have an Allotment! by Muntjac

The funniest thing ever written about getting an allotment, keep an eye out for some good advice hidden in here.

Raised Deep Bed Gardening Pt 1 - About Raised or Deep Beds

Raised Deep Beds are becoming more popular as a growing method for vegetables but what are the advantages and disadvantages? Are raised deep beds the right choice for you?

Raised Deep Bed Gardening Pt 2 - How to Construct Raised Deep Beds

How to construct and what size to make Raised Deep Beds for vegetable growing

Rotavator and Cultivator Manuals

Old rotavator and cultivator manuals for free download.