🎉 50th Anniversary Celebration – This Weekend!

Dear Member,

It has finally arrived — WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND!

What better time to stock up on essentials such as tomato food, slug pellets, MP compost and netting? Most of you have already bought your seeds for this year, but with an extra 5% or 10% off this weekend, why not stock up for next year too?

EVERYTHING is reduced, depending on which day you visit The Hut.

We expect some items — especially composts — to sell out quickly, but we’ve done our best to meet demand.

All competitions are now closed, and the list of winners will be announced this weekend.

📅 Weekend Schedule

Saturday 11th April – 5% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–12 noon

5% off purchases for all members

Sunday 12th April – 10% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–2pm

⭐ 10% off purchases for all members

🥨 Light nibbles available

🏆 Competition results announced

🎖️ The Mayor will visit around midday

💙 A representative from Willen Hospice will attend to receive the total donations raised so far

Please make every effort to come along and celebrate with us.

🛒 Back in Stock

• 🌱 Thatcher’s 60L compost (60L) is now available again — but with this weekend’s discounts, it may not last long.
• 🌿 Replacement for Erin compost is now Clover.

🌿 Growing Tips from Mick

🌱 Broad Beans

My broad beans, planted a few weeks ago, are now growing well. Soon they’ll need support to prevent them falling over.

I place 4ft canes at 3ft intervals around the double row, then use string or twine to tie along and across the row. As they grow taller, I add more string to support the tops.

🥒 Courgettes

Courgettes are easy to grow from seed, and just a few plants will keep you well supplied all summer.

I recommend no more than three plants.

Try different varieties:

• 💛 Atena Polka (yellow)
• 💚 Zucchini (green)
• 🟢 Boldenice F1 (round green)

🫘 Runner Beans

Many people plant out runner beans in May, meaning they were sown in April — a risk, as they dislike the cold.

I sow mine in mid‑May, two seeds per jiffy pot. They’re ready to plant out in early June.

To protect them from cold or wind, I place 2ft-high plastic sheeting around the outside and remove it once the weather warms.

🌼 Plants for Sale

There will be no plant sales this weekend due to the anniversary celebrations.

Most plants need another two weeks of growth anyway.

The big rush will begin Saturday 18th April, when we’ll have:

• 🌶️ Peppers
• 🍅 Tomatoes
• 🍆 Aubergines

Cucumbers were sown later due to limited greenhouse space, so they may need an extra week.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary