Dear Member,

🥔 A Challenging Season for Some Crops

I recently decided to dig up all my maincrop potatoes as the ground was so dry it was becoming hard work to keep them watered. It has been a disappointing crop this year — many have holes and will not be of much use.

If yours are still in the ground, it may be worth checking them.

Runner beans are not producing the abundance seen in previous years, and the winter cabbage plants I recently planted were not looking good, so I discarded them.

This hot weather is proving difficult for some crops, but the squash and pumpkins are loving it — growing day by day. Overall, I decided to cut my losses, stop wasting water on struggling vegetables, and concentrate on those that are thriving. Something for us all to think about.

🥔 Maincrop Potatoes – Harvesting & Storing

• Harvest window: Late August to October, typically 15–20 weeks after planting.
• Top tip: Cut the tops off 10–14 days before lifting. Leaving 1–2 inches of stem helps toughen the skins and reduces bruising.

🔧 Harvesting

Push your fork 30 cm (1 ft) away from the main stem to avoid spearing potatoes.

We all spike the odd one — just use those quickly.

📦 Preparing for Storage

• Lay potatoes on a tray to dry for about 4 days.
• Check each one carefully. Any with cuts, bruises, or soft spots should be used quickly.
• One bad potato spoils the batch.
• Store in a potato sack in total darkness — light turns them green and toxic.

🫘 Beans & Courgettes

It seems that however often you pick beans and courgettes, there are always more a day or two later (if you’re lucky). What a lovely position to be in.

Keep picking them, removing any oversized pods or courgettes with marrow ambitions — unless you want the larger ones for cooking with mince and veg.

🎄 Christmas Potatoes

We will not have seed potatoes for Christmas available at The Hut this year.

If you already have some:

• Use a large pot
• Fill the bottom 9 inches with soil
• Place 3–4 potatoes on top
• Cover with more soil and water

With luck, you’ll have potatoes from November onwards.

🍽️ Recipes to Try

Last week I mentioned our new Plot to Plate recipe page on the website (whgaa.org).

One member has already sent in two marrow recipes, which will be added this week.

This page is for ALL members to share their favourite recipes — please send yours in – whgaa2801@gmail.com

🏆 WHGAA Garden & Allotment Produce Show

📍 Caroline Haslett Primary School, Faraday Drive, Shenley Lodge, MK5 7DF

📅 Saturday 5th September

All class details were included in the recent newsletter or can be found on the website (whgaa.org).

We still believe that Kevin Whately will be attending and presenting prizes to the winning members.

📰 WHGAA August Newsletter – Groundwork

This has now been emailed, delivered, or posted to every member.

Some email providers may mark attachments as spam, so if you haven’t received it, there are plenty of copies available in The Hut.

🏷️ August Sale

• 50% off selected lines
• Selected sunflower seed packets – 50p

🌼 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary