🌱 Preparing for the Busy Season Ahead

Dear Member,

As summer approaches, we all become busy preparing the ground for the plants sown over the last month or two.

🌡️ Be aware: we may still get a few cold nights, so keep tender plants — tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers — indoors a little longer if you plan to grow them outside.

🥔 Potatoes – Frost Damage

If your potato plants have been caught by frost, don’t panic.

• ❌ Remove blackened or damaged foliage
• 🌱 Plants usually produce new shoots within 10–14 days
• 🕒 Expect a slight delay to your harvest
• 🛡️ Protect remaining growth by:
  • Earthing up soil
  • Using fleece, plastic or sheets to prevent further damage

🌿 Plants for Sale This Weekend

Due to demand, I sowed more Big Daddy tomatoes 3–4 weeks ago, so I’ll be bringing around 60 plants to The Hut this weekend.

I also have a small number of Tomato Principe Borghese (a cherry plum type) — only about a dozen.

Also available:

• 🍅 A range of tomatoes
• 🥒 Cucumbers
• 🍈 Melons

💙 25p from every plant sold is donated to Willen Hospice.

💙 Willen Hospice Fundraising Update

We continue to raise money for Willen Hospice.

If you’d like to donate or round up your purchase, please let us know.

🌟 Plant sales have already raised over £200, and when added to our 50th anniversary donation, we have now raised just over £1,000 this year.

🪴 Container Growing Tips

May can bring very warm days, and pots dry out quickly.

• 💧 Keep a close eye on watering
• 🌼 Begin feeding with a dilute liquid fertiliser, especially for flowering or fruiting plants
• 🪣 For late spring sowings:
  • Line containers with polythene
  • Add water‑retaining granules
  • This reduces how often you need to water

🍈 Growing Melons – A Challenge!

I’ve decided to try growing a melon at home this year — and it seems many of you have too.

🌱 Planting

• When plants reach 10cm (4 inches), move them to large pots or growbags under glass
• Provide support and tie stems as needed
• 🌼 Hand pollination is required
• Remove male flowers after use

🌿 Training

• When the main stem reaches 60cm (24 inches), pinch out the tip
• Select the four strongest side shoots
• Pinch each out after three leaves
• New side breaks: pinch out after two leaves, then again after one leaf

Now you know what’s involved — good luck!

🌽 Time to Sow (May)

May is a great month to sow:

• 🥒 Courgettes
• 🎃 Squashes
• 🌽 Sweetcorn
• 🫘 Runner beans (I sow mine mid‑May and put up the canes at the same time)
• 🫘 Dwarf beans — stagger sowings:
  • Five now
  • Five in three weeks
  • This avoids a glut and keeps the neighbours safe from surprise veg deliveries

🍓 Fruits of Your Labour

This is a key time for fruit set and swelling.

💧 Keep plants well watered to avoid checks in growth that can reduce yields.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary