🌱 Preparing Your Plot for Winter
Dear Member,
Having harvested your crops, you should now be preparing your plots for overwintering with spring planting in mind. 🌿 This may simply involve spreading manure over the area and digging it in or, if that sounds too much like hard work, why not try some green manures?
🌱 Field Beans seem to be very popular this year and will fix nitrogen in the soil while helping to protect it from wet and windy weather. A relative of the broad bean, they are grown in the same way.
🫘 How to Plant:
- 📏 Sow direct 15-20cm apart
- ⬇️ 4cm deep
- 📏 Rows 20-30cm apart
🌼 In late winter or spring, when you want to use the bed, cut them down at ground level, leaving the roots in the soil. ♻️Add the stems and leaves to the compost heap.
⏰ Opening Hours Reminder
📢 NOTE ON THE OPENING HOURS
From NOW until Saturday 12th December we are ONLY OPEN ON SATURDAYS, so please make a note of the dates below.
🛒 Saturday November 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th
- ⏰ Open between 9:30am and 12 noon
🛒 Saturday December 5th and 12th
- ⏰ Open between 9:30am and 12 noon
🔒 After these dates we are CLOSED.
📅 In 2027 we reopen on both Saturday and Sunday starting 9th January.
⏰ Opening hours will be 9:30am – 12 noon until 30th May.
🌸 Drought-Tolerant Flowers
💧 Just a few suggestions for flowers that can cope with a lack of water:
- 🌿 English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Fragrant purple flowers; best in full sun and sharply drained soil.
- 🌺 Salvia – Long-flowering spikes in many colours; prefers sun and free-draining soil.
- 🐝 Stonecrop (Hylotelephium, formerly Sedum) – Succulent foliage and late-summer flower heads that attract pollinators.
- 🌼 Coneflower (Echinacea) – Colourful, daisy-like blooms; thrives in sunny borders once established.
- 🌸 Yarrow (Achillea) – Flat flower clusters in white, yellow, pink or red; tolerates poor, dry soil.
- ⭐ Sea Holly (Eryngium) – Architectural blue or silver flower heads; excellent for hot, dry sites.
- 🦋 Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) – Airy purple blooms from summer into autumn; ideal for sunny, well-drained borders.
- 🌷 Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) – Delicate pink or white flowers on slender stems; performs well in dry, sunny positions.
- 🌹 Rock Rose (Cistus) – Evergreen shrub with papery flowers; suited to sheltered, sunny gardens.
- ❤️ Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) – Long-flowering red, pink or white clusters; thrives in walls and stony ground.
- 🐾 Catmint (Nepeta) – Aromatic foliage and violet-blue flowers; drought tolerant after establishment.
- 🔥 Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) – Vivid red-and-yellow blooms; enjoys heat and well-drained soil.
💡 Growing Note: Even drought-resistant plants need regular watering during their first growing season while their roots become established. Most perform best in full sun ☀️ and well-drained soil.
🎁 WHGAA Gift Vouchers
🎄 Looking for a gardening-themed Christmas or birthday present?
We are now offering £10 Gift Vouchers for members to purchase.
🎟️ If the recipient is not already a member, we will provide FREE Membership until October 2027, allowing them to use The Hut and enjoy all the benefits of membership.
💙 Charity Donations for 2027
Supporting Prostate Cancer UK 💙
Available now:
🏅 Badges – £2
📿 Wristbands – £2
🔑 Keyrings – £3
Every purchase, along with any donations received, will help support our chosen charity throughout 2027.
🌷 Spring Flowering Bulbs & Shallot Sets
🛍️ Stock Clearance Offer
From this weekend:
🌷 Bulbs – Buy One Get One Free 🧅 Shallot Sets – Reduced Price
While stocks last!
🐦 10% OFF Until 12th December
🎉 10% Discount Offer
Applies to:
🐦 Bird Feeders
🌾 Bird Feed
🦔 Hedgehog Food
Offer available until 12th December.
🌻 Happy Gardening!
Mick Goodman
📋 Membership Secretary
