🌼 WHGAA Member Update – Mid‑May
Dear Member,
📸 50th Anniversary Photos
For those of you who attended our 50th anniversary on April 12th, the first selection of photographs is now on display in The Hut. More are on their way and will be added to the notice board as soon as they arrive.
💙 Willen Hospice Fundraising Update
Thanks to your generosity, we have already donated £806 to Willen Hospice, with fundraising continuing throughout the year.
- 🛍️ WHGAA Tote Bags – £3.95 each, with £1 donated per bag
- 🌱 Tomato & Pepper Plants – 25p from each plant sold goes to the Hospice
- ✒️ Commemorative Pens – Free for members at the till
Your support is making a real difference.
🌿 Plants for Sale – Last Chance!
This weekend at The Hut:
- 🍅 ~150 Tomato plants
- 🥒 Cucumber plants
- 🥒 Courgettes & Squashes (limited stock)
I won’t be growing any more this season as my greenhouse now needs to be set up for tomatoes, melons and cucumbers.
🌱 Plant Sale Milestone:
You’ve purchased 1,551 plants so far—quite an achievement from an 8×6 greenhouse!
Your purchases have raised an additional £387 for Willen Hospice.
Brilliant result!
🍈 Grow Something Different: Cucamelons
If you fancy adding a bit of fun to your plot, cucamelons are a great choice.
They grow on scrambling vines, taste like a mix of cucumber and lime, and look like tiny melons—perfect for children and curious gardeners alike.
🌱 Sowing Now
Now is a good time to start:
- Runner beans
- Climbing beans
- Sweetcorn
- Pumpkins
- Squash
- Courgettes
Start them under cover and protect from cold nights. They’ll be ready to plant out in early June when nights are warmer.
🧤 Five Jobs for the Allotment in May
- Plant out tender crops once frost risk has passed
- Begin regular watering
- Keep on top of weeds
- Support climbing crops
- Sow little and often—avoid a glut you can’t give away!
🍮 Check Your Rhubarb
Rhubarb is in full growth now. Hot or dry spells can cause thick flowering stems to appear in the centre of the clump.
🌸 Pull these out as soon as they form to keep the plant productive.
🪴 Using Raised Beds
Raised beds warm up quickly but also dry out fast.
Keep an eye on moisture levels, especially after sowing seeds or when seedlings are just emerging.
💷 May Offer – 10% Off
Our 10% monthly discount is back!
For May, all mainframe products are reduced.
Happy Gardening
Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary
