Dear Member,
March is a busy month for sowing but be aware that we may still get some cold nights so any seeds sown may need protection. March is the time to start sowing vegetables outdoors like peas, carrots and beetroot. I like to also sow the spring onions out now as they take a while to mature. There is still time to sow broad beans direct into the ground and you may be considering starting your parsnips.
Membership prize draw:
Winning numbers still not claimed. If these three numbers appear on your membership card in this order, 30?4, 32?0. 32?0 or 33?3 then maybe you should get to The Hut. There’s a £10 voucher to spend in The Hut if you are a winner. More next week.
Onion and Shallot sets and Garlic:
Get planting onion, shallot and garlic sets now for a bit of punchy flavour in your future meals. Keep checking the onions as the birds may mistake the tops for worms and pull them up out of the ground. If you have bought garlic them break down the bulb and plant each clove individually.
In the greenhouse:Â
If you covered your greenhouse in bubble wrap or another kind of insulation, consider taking it down now to allow more light to pour in. Watch the weather though as we may just get some more cold days yet.
Cutting the lawn:
If you are intending to cut your grass then keep the mower blades high to start with, lowering them gradually over the next few cuts as the ground warms up and dries out. It’s also worth doing a spot of weeding in the lawn now so that the grass has a chance to root into the gaps you make.
Don’t forget the hedgehogs:
I keep hearing that members have hedgehogs that visit their garden, March is the time when they come out of hibernation and they may need supplementary food. Boost hedgehog food sources by making piles of leaves and wood to attract beetles.
The vegetable patch:
You can plant bare root asparagus crowns this month, providing that the soil is draining well. Choose an open sunny space but be prepared to wait, they take a couple of years to get established. If you have planted cabbages or any other brassicas outside, now is a good time to give them a dose of nitrogen-rich fertiliser to help them along. If you are preparing your brassica bed, then you could spread some lime in the area to increase the Ph value which they thrive on.
Competitions update:
All three competitions are now in full swing with the results to be announced on Sunday April 12th. Most interest appears to be with the treasure map and all you must do is pick five squares on the map for a £1 entry fee, there are 23 prizes on offer.
The ‘guess the beans in the jar’ continues and the final competition which started last weekend was to guess the weight of the cake (to win it).
ALL entry fees will be donated to the Willen Hospice so please enter the fun by having a go.
50th anniversary celebrations:
On Sunday April 12th The Hut will be open between 10am and 2pm as we are hoping that many of you will be joining in with the celebrations planned. The results of the competitions will be announced, and we are expecting the mayor to attend as well as the presentation to Willen Hospice of the money raised so far. We would love to see you there so please make a note in your diary now. Keep an eye on the weekly newsletter for special offer updates.
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
