Be inspired by the best books on allotment gardening

This is a comprehensive book that has chapters based on the fruits and vegetables you would be most likely to grow. It even has a chapter on keeping livestock. There's a useful fold-out month-by-month planner so you can track the tasks that need doing.

It's an informative and enjoyable book that aims to teach and inspire. Reviewers say it's packed with all you need to know and do throughout the year and especially like the "wish I'd known" tips. The layout is clear and wonderfully illustrated with photographs.

You're in expert hands with Alan Titchmarsh, a beloved TV personality, and twice named Gardening Writer of the Year. The emphasis of this book is to give practical information about creating, planting, and harvesting your allotment.

As you would expect from a BBC publication the easy-to-follow content is illustrated with glossy photographs. Chapters are divided into getting an allotment and planning your plot, planting and growing, and an A-Z of vegetables. Reviewers report finding the tips and tricks especially useful.

This book is broken down into sections, starting with allotment know-how that's all about organising your plot and what to plant. An allotment calendar section takes you through tasks and tips month-by-month in a way that reviewers describe as straightforward and easy to understand.

The crop planner section is a comprehensive guide to cultivating all major vegetables, fruits and herbs. Finally, a troubleshooter section looks at common plant diseases, pests and parasites. There are plenty of photos and clear information, as you'd expect from a DK publication.

The most encyclopaedic book in our guide, there's no allotment gardening question this For Dummies book leaves unanswered. It's a brilliant reference book and very much a practical guide. So, if you want to know what to do and when on your plot, this book covers everything.

Reviewers praise this book for its expert knowledge, clever dodges, and even tasty cooking ideas, saying it provides sound advice for the first-time gardener. There is a useful section towards the end of the book covering mistakes to avoid and troubleshooting advice.

Written by Lia Leendertz, this RHS title proposes that productivity is best achieved by working in half-an-hour slots. There are ten time-saving chapters that cover taking on your plot, what to grow, and how to manage it in its first year. The text is clear and illustrated with glossy photographs.

Also, there are handy tips in boxed-out lists, so it's a very accessible book for beginners - which reviewers rate as blooming lovely. This is a great choice for anyone who doesn't have unlimited time to spend on their plot but still want to get growing.

This wonderfully designed and illustrated allotment handbook is synonymous with DK's visual approach. Information is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and is aimed at new allotment owners.

Simon Akeroyd is an experienced gardening author, who keeps the text succinct and delivered in manageable bite-size sections. He has penned over 30 gardening books in all and was previously Gardens' Manager for the National Trust, and the Royal Horticultural Society.

A pocket-size book of tips and techniques for both allotment beginners and experienced gardeners. The book has a vintage feel to it with an old-fashioned typeset, yet it's packed with useful and up-to-date information. Do be aware it's more of a factual guide than a photographic or illustrative one.

Along with traditional allotment plots, this book also provides information about growing produce in greenhouses and polytunnels. Unlike some other titles we've covered, this has a section on growing edible flowers so is great for the more adventurous.

For enjoying your earthy pleasures, this planner is beautifully illustrated and many reviewers say that it makes the ideal gift for keen gardeners. It is very much a book to record your crops and harvest - not a guide - though it does have some tips and inspiring gardening quotes.

Featuring whimsical illustrations, amusing gardening-related quotes, and daily prompts, it's the ideal way to record how your garden grows. This also offers blank pages so you can sketch out your allotment plot and planting plan.

This recipe book is written in an engaging and easy-to-follow style. It has a wonderful vintage design with lovely line illustrations. Pete Lawrence's book is divided up into seasons with what to sow and harvest at that time of year. The recipes are based around individual vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Recipes encompass all kinds of meals with everything from comforting asparagus risotto to imaginative Christmas burgers with bubble and squeak patties. Reviewers appreciate the seasonal approach Lawrence takes so you can plan recipes as produce comes into season.

Written by a passionate allotmenteer, this is volume one in a series that focuses on starting out and growing fruit and vegetables on your plot. It also covers areas such as composting and how to deal with pests. The book is written by an expert, who has authored several gardening books.

This covers vegetable patches, allotments, and even small holdings. The density of the text and some of the more advanced topics covered may alienate absolute newcomers. But if you enjoy Jones' authorial voice, then this book may be a gateway to the rest of his allotment series.