The Big Allotment Challenge

The Big Allotment Challenge… starting April 15th.

Nine pairs of gardeners go head to head!

The Challenge takes place in the walled garden at Mapledurham House in Oxfordshire. Fern Britton is presenting the six part series and the contestants will be warming up by growing radishes. As the elimination process moves on amateur gardeners will be trying their hands at sweetcorn, aubergines and melons.

There is no Simon Cowell. At least he hasn’t confirmed yet! The three judges are Jim Buttress – a horticultural expert who used to look after the Royal Parks, Jonathan Moseley who is a floral designer, and Thane Prince who used to write for the Daily Telegraph and has featured on Ready Steady Cook!

Plot16 will be following the events and reporting them on here and on Twitter.

A book “The Big Allotment Challenge: The Patch“, written by Tessa Evelegh, accompanies the series and is available from April 2014 to buy from Amazon for £16.78. Its aimed at novice gardeners and includes a foreword from Fern Britton. In addition to growing tips there are also recipes for making chutneys and jams – a must for all allotmenteers who don’t want to waste their surplus harvests…