Dear Member,

🏡 Hut Opening This Weekend

The Hut normally opens at 9:30am, but this weekend:

• Martyn is on holiday, and
• I’m resting following an eye operation,

so please don’t expect the Hut to open much before 10am.

🌿 Looking Back on the Growing Year

This season has been a mixed bag:

• 🧅 Onions — A great success, all grown from seed. I prefer seeds as they produce larger bulbs and are less prone to bolting.
• 🥔 Potatoes — Charlotte potatoes were excellent; main crop disappointing, though we have a few stored.
• 🥕 Carrots — Far too many! Plenty in the freezer and many soups made.
• 🫘 Beans — Runner beans poor; Dwarf French beans much better.
• 🥦 Brassicas — Erratic. Brussels sprouts looked like they’d fail but have recovered.

Every year I tell myself: ONLY grow what you can eat!

Every year I fail.

Next year will be better — I promise.

🐞 Flea Beetles

Some cabbages planted in June struggled, so I bought replacements from a garden centre. After two weeks they looked awful — I’ve now pulled them up.

I believe flea beetles are the cause. These tiny insects have thrived with no rain or cool spells to interrupt their breeding. The damage to brassicas, especially young seedlings, has been formidable — the worst I’ve ever seen.

🏆 WHGAA Garden & Allotment Produce Show

Just ONE WEEK to go!

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

📅 Saturday 5th September

• Entries accepted: 9:30am–12 noon (doors close for judging at 12)
• Viewing & socialising: From 2pm
• Prizegiving: 2:30pm by Kevin Whately
• Auction: Donated produce auctioned afterwards — all proceeds to charity

We hope to see you there!

🌸 Spring Flowering Bulbs – Now in Stock

Available this weekend:

• 🌺 Amaryllis — £7.25 per pack or 2 for £13.50
• 🌼 Hyacinths — £4.25 per pack or 2 for £7.50
• 🌷 Tulips — £4.40 per pack or 2 for £8
• 🌻 Narcissi — £3.75 per pack or 2 for £6.50

Plus Alliums, Crocus, and Fritillaria.

🧅 Autumn Planting Sets

Onion sets, shallots, and garlic will arrive from mid‑September onwards. Updates will follow in future newsletters.

🌱 Broad Beans

Our usual bagged varieties for autumn sowing are in stock:

• Bunyards Exhibition
• Aguadulce
• Longpod
• The Sutton

PLUS — for the first time — prepacked broad beans from Kings Seeds, including:

• Claudia
• Karmazn
• Masterpiece Green
• Witkiem Manita

A great chance to try something new.

🌸 Sweet Peas – 2027 Range

We have details of the 2027 Sweet Pea range:

27 varieties, including three new introductions.

Sow in autumn or wait until early next year.

🌬️ Planning Ahead – Weather Warning

A recent report suggests the El Niño event is strengthening in the Pacific, increasing the risk of extreme autumn and winter weather.

Please:

• Stake tall crops (Brussels sprouts, purple sprouting, etc.)
• Secure or remove loose items around your plot
• Prepare for strong winds and storms

📅 WHGAA AGM

Our 50th Annual General Meeting will take place at:

📍 River Valley Centre, White Horse Drive, Emerson Valley, MK4 2AS

📅 Friday 2nd October

Please add it to your diary.

🛒 August Sale

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

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary