Dear Member,

🍂 Autumn Planting Arrivals

This weekend sees the arrival of the Autumn planting onions, shallot sets, and garlic 🧅🧄 — and as always, we expect a rush. It’s difficult to judge quantities when ordering, so if you want a particular variety, it’s best to get to The Hut sooner rather than later.

🕤 Open 9:30am on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September.

🌱 On Sale This Weekend

Onion Sets: Senshyu, Yellow Winter, Autumn Champion, Snowball, Red Winter

Shallot Sets: Golden Gourmet, Yellow Moon, Red Sun

Garlic: Germidor, Vigor

🐘 Elephant garlic will arrive in early October.

🧺 Harvesting & Sharing Surplus

With Autumn approaching, ensure any crops still growing are harvested and stored. News reports suggest farmers are struggling with many crops, leading to higher costs or shortages. If you can’t use all your produce, don’t compost it — a neighbour may appreciate any surplus 🌽🥕.

🎃 Squashes & Pumpkins

Squashes and pumpkins are usually harvested in late September or October before any hard frost ❄️. They can be left a little longer unless they’ve reached the size you want.

🪣 Preparing Pots for Next Year

If you’re storing pots for next year, clean them thoroughly first:

• 🧹 Remove debris: Shake out old compost and brush away loose dirt.
• 🫧 Scrub: Wash in warm, soapy water to remove residue.
• 💧 Rinse: Ensure they’re fully clean and ready for use next season.

🌞 Drought Planning

With the lack of rain and hot sunny days, you may be considering ways to reduce watering next year. If digging heavy clay soil is becoming difficult, a no‑dig area might be worth exploring.

🐛 Leek Moth Alert

The second generation of leek moth larvae hatch between August and October. Creamy caterpillars with brown heads feed on foliage and bore into stems. They pupate in silky cocoons.

🕸️ Best protection: Grow leeks under fine netting.

🥔 Potatoes

If you haven’t already, dig up main crop potatoes. Leaving them too long after die‑back risks rot and pest damage.

🍅 In the Greenhouse

Tomatoes are still growing, and perhaps melons too. With shorter days:

• 🌤️ Reduce shading to increase light.
• 🍃 Remove foliage resting on soil or yellowing at the base.
• 🔆 Thin dense leaves blocking light from fruit trusses.
• ⚠️ Don’t remove more than 20–30% of foliage at once.

🌸 Kings Seeds Update

The Kings Seeds display has been low recently, but new 2027 stock has now arrived. We now have 25 varieties of sweet peas — perfect for Autumn sowing — plus a few new vegetable additions 🌱.

🌼 Spring Flowering Bulbs

Demand for Amaryllis seems low this year. These lovely Christmas‑flowering bulbs take 6–8 weeks to grow. Although the range has expanded, they remain slow sellers and difficult to stock at cost. It may be time to reduce or stop stocking them.

📅 WHGAA – AGM

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

🗓️ Friday 2nd October

A representative from Willen Hospice will give a short talk, and we will present a cheque for donations made since April. Any donations made by the end of September will be included 💙.

From 3rd October, donations will support Prostate Cancer UK.

🛍️ September Offers

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

🌱 Bulb fibre also available.

Happy Gardening 🌿

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary