Dear Member,

We continue to draw three member numbers each weekend, but we still have 15 unclaimed £10 vouchers. For this week, if these three numbers appear on your membership card in this order, 33?4, 34?9. 35?0 or 37?0 then maybe you should get to The Hut. More next week.

The 50^th anniversary competitions are now in full swing.

Treasure map: 

Just pick five locations on the map of Milton Keynes for £1. There are 26 prizes on offer.

Guess the number of beans in the jar:

50p a guess to win a £10 voucher to spend in The Hut.

And the last competition was started last weekend:

Guess the weight of the cake: 

50p a guess to win the cake. A very fruity, boozy cake I am told.

All entry fees will go towards the Willen Hospice so please support these when you next visit The Hut.

Round it up for charity:

So many of you are ‘donating’ your change by rounding up your purchase to the nearest pound. Many thanks to those that have donated so far.

Growing parsnips: 

We all have methods to ensure we grow a good parsnip. Some like to spread the seed on kitchen paper, keep it moist and leave in a warm place until planting on. Others like to use the root trainers which can work but you need to plant them out once you see two leaves forming. Sowing indoors is generally not recommended, as parsnips form a tap root that doesn’t transplant well but with care it can work.

Parsnips have a reputation for being tricky to germinate, but if you wait until the soil has warmed up in mid-spring, use fresh seeds and sow plenty, you should have good results. Sowings made in March and April, and even early May, tend to do much better. Covering the soil with cloches for a couple of weeks before sowing also helps to dry it out and warm up the soil.  Prepare the soil by removing as many stones as possible and loosen heavy clay or compacted soil, so your parsnips grow long, straight roots that don’t fork. Don’t dig in any organic manure immediately before sowing, as this can also cause roots to branch and fork.

Sowing Seeds yet?

I have sown all the peppers (chilli and sweet) which will be on sale in mid-April but due to the lack of sun you need to be very careful with watering. Overwatering tiny seedlings can lead to serious problems. Young crops need plenty of moisture but saturating soil on a regular basis can encourage soil borne fungi to spread. If you notice brown patches on the stems, then it’s likely this is the problem. Last year I lost a lot of plants and because of the lack of sun so far, I have a few dying back.

Plenty of flower and vegetable crops can be sown in March, as the days begin to lengthen and become warmer. March is a good time to sow hardy vegetables (peas, broad beans, carrots, beetroot, salad leaves, parsnips) and planting onion/garlic sets. Under cover, start heat-loving seeds like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Seed Potatoes: 

Keep an eye on your seed potatoes, assuming you are chitting them, but don’t be too hasty to plant them in the ground. Plant them too early and any growth may appear when there are still frosts around meaning you will have to cover them with fleece to protect them or rake earth over them to cover. 

As a guide:

    First earlies – plant around late March

    Second earlies – plant in early to mid-April

    Maincrops – plant in mid-April to early May

If you don’t have space in the ground, you can grow potatoes in large containers, where they’ll produce a decent crop. Early varieties are the most suitable, as the plants are smaller and mature more quickly.

Hardy annuals such as cornflowers and poppies can also now be sown direct outside, where they are to flower. These do best on ‘poor’ soil, so don’t enrich it with fertiliser. Half-hardy annuals such as dahlias, zinnias and perennials are best sown under glass and should be planted out into fertile soil after all risk of frost has passed.

The 10% off all WHGAA bagged fertiliser has been extended for March.

We have reduced the price of all 2.5Kg and 5Kg bags of fertilisers as well as the 25Kg bags.

If you do not want to receive this weekly email, then you need to let me know by emailing me using: whgaa2801@gmail.com.

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary