Dear Member,

We are now well into the growing season, and you are probably looking to harvest many of your vegetables. Early potatoes may be ready (depends on when you planted them), broad beans will need picking as well as the garlic. For me, July is the best time of the year as when I walk around the supermarket, I look at the cost of the veggies and give a little smile knowing that I can go home and pick some fresh ones and not pay those silly prices.

🧄 Garlic

Carefully lift your garlic once the top half of the foliage has turned yellow. The bulbs will be deliciously juicy — this is known as wet garlic.

🌬️ Check: Brassicas

Tall winter brassicas like brussels sprouts and kale can get top‑heavy. Make a mound of soil around the base of their stems to stabilise them and prevent falling.

🌿 Sow: Oriental Vegetables

July is the ideal time to sow oriental vegetables such as:

• Pak choi
• Tatsoi
• Chinese cabbage
• Chinese broccoli

They prefer the shortening days.

🧅 Shallots

Gently slip your fork under the base of shallots and half lift them out of the soil — this starts the drying process ready for harvesting.

🌱 Growing Onions from Seeds

During December I always suggest sowing onion seeds on Boxing Day, but now I’m going to suggest you start some in AUGUST.

This is the ONLY month you can sow Senshyu onion seeds!

I tried them for the first time last year and kept them in pots throughout winter (though they could have gone in the ground). They went onto the plot around March. I covered them with fine fleece to avoid onion fly until early June, and they have grown extremely well — my best ever onions from seed.

Seeds are not available from the hut but can be ordered from Kings Seeds direct (£1.95 for 150 seeds). Senshyu onion sets are also available for autumn planting, but I prefer the seeds.

🌡️ In the Greenhouse

• Remove lower leaves from cucumbers and tomatoes around ripening fruits.
• Damp down the floors with water to help maintain humidity.

🌾 More Sowing Options

Why not try:

• Chicory or kohl rabi — sow now for a late‑September harvest
• Radish mooli — ready in November
• Cabbage April — sow now for a spring harvest next year

🏆 Time to Look Over: WHGAA Produce Show

Start planning which of your flowers and vegetables will be good enough to enter the WHGAA Garden and Allotment Produce Show, held at:

Caroline Haslett Primary School

Faraday Drive, Shenley Lodge, MK5 7DF

Saturday 5th September

We currently have a TV celebrity awarding the prizes — someone most of you will know.

Count down at 64 Day

More information can be found at https://www.whgaa.org/whgaa-produce-show-2026-5th-september/

🎄 Christmas Potatoes

If you are planning to grow seed potatoes during August for a Christmas harvest, please note:

We will NOT be stocking them this year.

I wanted to let you know early in case you were expecting them.

🛒 10% Monthly Offer for June AND into July

All Tomato Feeds

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary