Dear Member,

🥕 Harvest Time

As we move towards autumn, many crops will need harvesting.

• Parsnips, Swede & Leeks — Can stay in the ground into winter.
• Carrots — Fine until Christmas; or store in moist sand in a dark, frost‑free place.
• Potatoes — Store in potato sacks in a dark, frost‑free area.
• ❄️ Freezing — If you have space, many crops freeze well for long‑term storage.

🧅 Can I Replant Small Onions?

A member asked whether small onions grown this year can be replanted.

Replanting is possible, but they will likely bolt and produce flowers rather than forming large bulbs.

Use small onions as green onions, or add them to soups and stews.

🌱 Sow Now – Last Chance for Winter Salads

Grow plants large enough to withstand cold weather.

Available from The Hut:

• 🥬 Lettuce All Year Round
• 🥬 Lettuce Arctic King

❌ Winter Density is unavailable this year due to seed failure.

🫘 Save Runner Bean Seeds for Next Year

• Leave a few pods on the plant until dry and brittle.
• Dry seeds further indoors on trays, warm and out of direct sunlight.
• Press each bean with your thumb — if it leaves an impression, they need more drying.
• Store in paper bags for next year.

🌼 Get Ready for Autumn Planting

With onion and shallot sets (and garlic) going on sale around 18 September, start clearing space now.

You may also want to:

• Start broad beans or peas
• Sow sweet peas — a good variety is available at The Hut

🍈 Are the Melons Ready Yet?

Many members have asked!

Mick grew Ogen this year — ripe when the skin turns green → orange.

If you bought Emir or Malaga plants from The Hut, check below:

🍈 Emir

• Sweet aroma
• Melon detaches easily with a gentle pull
• Skin colour changing
• Tiny cracks around stem

🍈 Malaga

• Sweet aroma
• Rind changing from dark green to slight yellow/cream
• Tiny stem cracks
• Tendrils nearest the fruit turning brown and dried

If so, they may be ready!

🌽 Sweetcorn

Ready to harvest this month – that’s if the squirrels haven’t beaten you to them!!

Pinch a kernel — if pale milky sap appears, it’s time to pick.

🍓 Future Planning – Strawberry Runners

Strawberry runners are long stems that produce small plantlets.

Pin the nodes into soil or pots to grow free new plants.

🌞 Greenhouse Shading

Unless we get more hot sunny days (who knows!), it may be time to remove shading to allow more light into the greenhouse.

🌷 Spring Flowering Bulbs

Time to get:

• Amaryllis
• Hyacinths
• Daffodils
• Narcissus
• Tulips

…and a few others.

All available now from The Hut.

🌐 WHGAA Website

Our website (www,whgaa.org) is constantly updated — well worth a look.

The newest addition is the Plot to Plate recipe page.

Members are invited to share their favourite recipes — only a couple have been received so far.

📧 You must have a recipe you want to share! Send them to me and I will get them included on the web site.

📣 WHGAA AGM – 50th Anniversary

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

📅 Friday 2nd October

Please add it to your diary.

🛍️ September Offer

• 10% off Westlands bonsai, rose, citrus, and houseplant composts.

🌼 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary