Dear Member,
🌱 The growing season picks up this month
You can plant your onion and shallot sets, as well as any garlic you may have recently purchased. If you have not bought them yet, we still have a range available from The Hut. If you are not prepared for planting yet, you can still do so until the middle of November.
💡 A quick note about gardening advice
I keep being asked various questions testing my knowledge of growing techniques, which I assume is because of my weekly email to members. I must point out that whilst I have been growing vegetables for a very long time, I am not an expert. I do my best to pass on correct information from articles I see in books, on the internet, and in magazines. We all have different ideas about what to do on our plots and in the garden, and my suggestions should only be used as a guide.
🫘 Broad Beans
You can sow your broad beans between October and November for an early crop around February. I tend to grow them in pots to ensure they germinate, but you can also sow directly into the ground.
☀️ Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered growing site with well-drained soil. Weed the area thoroughly, then fork in plenty of well-rotted manure. Sow the seeds, with the scar facing downwards, 2-3 inches deep and in rows 6-9 inches apart.
📅 Alternatively, you can wait until February to sow them for a harvest around the end of June.
🌸 Sweet Peas
Sow in September or October and overwinter plants in a frost-free, cool place for very early flowers. When seedlings reach 10-15cm tall, pinch out the growing tip just above a leaf joint to encourage a bushier plant with more flowers.
🌼 You can also sow between January and April for blooms in the same year.
🟢 Peas
Some members like to grow peas over the winter.
✅ Meteor: A very frost-hardy, short dwarf variety (growing up to 45cm) that resists winter weather and spring storms.
✅ Douce Provence: A dwarf variety growing to about 75cm with sweet, succulent pods.
🛒 Special Orders
If you ever want 230L water butts (or other sizes), garden forks, spades, wheelbarrows, or any other gardening-related item, please contact Martyn at:
📧 mrobinson654@btinternet.com
He will provide details of what is available and the current prices. This is a new service we are offering and is strictly on a payment-in-advance basis.
💧 Drought-Tolerant Flowers and Vegetables
With the likelihood of another dry summer in 2027, I have been investigating which flowers and vegetables are drought tolerant.
⚠️ However, drought tolerant does not mean no water. Seeds and young plants need consistent moisture whilst establishing. Mature plants generally cope much better with short dry spells.
🌻 I will be suggesting various options during the coming weeks.
🏆 WHGAA AGM
The Association’s 50th Annual General Meeting will take place at the River Valley Centre, White Horse Drive, Emerson Valley, MK4 2AS on Friday 2nd October.
📅 Friday 2nd October – put a note in your diary!
🚪 Doors open at 7:15pm and the meeting starts at 7:30pm.
💙 We will be presenting the final cheque to Willen Hospice, who will also give a short presentation after the meeting about their work.
❤️ Chosen Charity 2027
First, a big thank you to everyone who has donated to Willen Hospice during the last year.
🎉 Around £1,300 has been raised, mainly from the raised beds available in January and from the sale of vegetable plants in April. We also added to the fund during our 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and through many members who rounded up their purchases at The Hut.
🎗️ From 1st October 2026, we have decided to support a new charity: Prostate Cancer UK
🙏 We hope you will continue to make small donations by rounding up your purchases whenever you visit The Hut.
🎁 10% Offer for September
Save 10% on selected Westland’s Bonsai, Rose, Citrus and Houseplant Composts.
🌿 Happy Gardening
Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary
