Dear Member,

🧅 Autumn Planting Reminder

Time is running out for planting onion and shallot sets, while garlic and broad beans need sowing now if you are planning to overwinter them.

🥬 It’s also worth checking that any netting protecting your brassicas is secure. More importantly, this is the perfect time to start thinking about supporting wildlife through the coming months.

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🐝 Supporting Wildlife This Winter

🍃 Leave stinging nettles to die down naturally.

🪵 Any dead wood will help support solitary bees.

🐸 Leaving a few pots on the ground can create useful shelter for frogs.

🏨 Build a bug hotel using scraps of wood or bundle old canes together to provide overwintering habitats.

🐦 One of the most important things birds need during winter is water. Consider leaving a saucer of water around your garden or plot, remembering to ensure that it does not freeze over during cold spells.

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🌱 Perlite or Vermiculite – Which Should You Use?

❓ Perlite and Vermiculite are very similar products, but there are some important differences.

🌬️ Perlite

✅ Improves drainage

✅ Helps loosen heavy or compacted soils

✅ Particularly useful in clay soils

✅ Excellent for cuttings and seed composts

🌿 Both products are suitable for organic gardening and neither decomposes in the soil, meaning the benefits continue year after year.

⚪ Understanding Perlite

🌋 Perlite is made from volcanic glass that expands when heated, rather like popcorn.

It is:

✔️ Sterile

✔️ Lightweight

✔️ pH neutral

✔️ Excellent for improving drainage

When mixed with compost, Perlite creates air pockets that improve drainage and root development.

⚠️ Perlite can be very dusty, so dampen it before use to avoid inhaling any dust.

💧 Vermiculite

✅ Excellent water retention

✅ Holds nutrients for plants and cuttings

✅ Ideal for moisture-loving plants

✅ Perfect for seed sowing and propagation

🟤 Understanding Vermiculite

🔥 Vermiculite is produced by heating a naturally occurring mineral (magnesium aluminium iron silicate) until it expands.

💧 It can absorb up to four times its own weight in water.

🌿 It also retains beneficial nutrients including:

• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium

🌱 Medium-grade Vermiculite is best for cuttings compost.

🌱 Fine-grade Vermiculite is ideal for seed sowing.

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🚜 No Dig Day

📅 According to gardening expert Charles Dowding, Tuesday 3 November 2027 is officially recognised as No Dig Day.

💭 There really does seem to be a day for everything these days!

I have started experimenting with a no-dig area on my allotment to see how well it works, so why not consider giving it a try yourself?

🛠️ How I Started

1️⃣ Laid cardboard over the area.

2️⃣ Covered it with manure.

3️⃣ Added spent greenhouse compost from the tomatoes to a depth of approximately 5 inches.

4️⃣ I will top it with some good-quality soil at a later date.

That’s all I intend to do.

🌍 Everything you need to know about starting a no-dig area can be found on the Charles Dowding website – charlesdowding.co.uk 

✅ Benefits of No Dig

🌱 Healthier soil structure

💧 Improved moisture retention

🌬️ Better drainage

🌿 Fewer weeds

⏱️ Less work

👢 Cleaner boots (hopefully!)

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🛒 Seasonal Stock Update

🧄 Elephant Garlic arrived too late to be included in last week’s newsletter, but it is now available in the Hut.

🧅 We still have three varieties of shallot sets available.

⚠️ Stocks of some onion sets are now running low, and there are currently no red onion sets remaining.

🌷 There are still a few bulbs available, including Amaryllis, Narcissus and several other varieties.

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💙 Charity Donations

🙏 Since January, many members have kindly made donations to Willen Hospice through their purchases.

🎉 At the AGM we were delighted to present the charity with the final amount raised, including the donation made during our 50th Anniversary celebrations.

💰 Total Raised for 2026: £1,565.11

👏 A fantastic achievement. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

🎗️ For 2027, we have chosen Prostate Cancer UK as our Charity of the Year and hope members will continue to support our fundraising by rounding up their purchases.

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🎁 10% Promotional Offer

🐦 From October to December

🎉 10% OFF ALL BIRD FEEDERS & BIRD FOOD

Now is the ideal time to prepare for winter wildlife visitors.

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🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

After the long, hot summer, we may soon be experiencing some cold nights and perhaps even the first frost. Make sure any crops that are not suited to colder weather are harvested and stored before they are damaged by the changing temperatures.

Now is also the time to plant onion sets, shallot sets and garlic. If you intend to overwinter peas or broad beans, prepare the ground now and get them sown soon.

Don’t forget to sow your sweet peas for next year. Use root trainers or soil-filled cardboard tubes and keep them in a cool, bright location such as an unheated greenhouse, cold frame or bright windowsill. Avoid excessive heat, as this can lead to weak growth.

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🕒 Hut Opening Hours

As most members know, we move to Saturday-only opening during November and December.

October

✅ Saturday 17 October and Sunday 18 October
Open 9:30am to 12 noon

✅ Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October
Open 9:30am to 12 noon

Then the schedule changes…

✅ Saturday 31 October
Open 9:30am to 12 noon

❌ Sunday 1 November
Closed

✅ Saturdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 November
Open 9:30am to 12 noon

✅ Saturdays 5 and 12 December
Open 9:30am to 12 noon

🔒 After Saturday 12 December, The Hut will be closed for the winter.

🎉 We reopen on Saturday 9 January 2027, returning to our normal Saturday and Sunday opening schedule. Opening hours will be 9:30am to 12 noon until 30 May 2027.

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🌿 Thinking About Going No-Dig?

Adopting a no-dig gardening approach helps preserve soil structure by avoiding unnecessary disturbance.

Benefits include:

🌱 Better soil structure
💧 Improved moisture retention
🪱 Protection for worms and other soil organisms
🍄 Support for beneficial mycorrhizal fungi
🌍 A healthier and more sustainable growing environment

I have recently set aside an area of my own plot to trial the no-dig method and see how it works for me.

🎊 Celebrate No Dig Day – Tuesday 3 November

Why not give it a try on part of your plot and see what results you get?

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🏡 In the Greenhouse

As you clear your greenhouse, it is a good opportunity to carry out any repairs and give it a thorough clean, including washing the glass.

🧽 Clean glass admits more light.

🔧 Check for damaged panes, clips and vents.

🫧 It may seem a little early to think about insulation, but now is the perfect time to make sure you have bubble wrap ready for installation when the colder weather arrives in November.

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🥦 Brassicas

If you are growing cauliflowers, protect the heads from cold nights by:

🌿 Tying the outer leaves over the curd with string, or

🛡️ Using a cloche or horticultural fleece.

For Brussels sprouts, remove any yellowing leaves to help reduce the risk of disease and keep plants healthy.

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🚜 Digging the Plot

For areas of the vegetable plot that are not being protected with mulch or green manure, it is worth turning over the soil if you are able to do so.

By turning over the soil:

🌧️ Rainwater can penetrate more easily.

❄️ Winter frosts can naturally break down heavy clods.

🌱 The ground is often left in good condition for spring cultivation.

That is, of course, assuming we get both rain and frost!

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🎁 Gift Vouchers Coming Soon

Many members have asked whether we offer gift vouchers and, until now, the answer has been no.

We’re pleased to announce that this is about to change.

💷 Soon, members will be able to purchase £10 gift vouchers.

🎁 Vouchers can be given to fellow members, family or friends.

🛒 They can be redeemed against purchases from The Hut.

More details will follow shortly.

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🐦 Bird Care & Wildlife Offer

10% OFF FROM OCTOBER TO DECEMBER

Take advantage of our seasonal wildlife promotion:

🐦 Bird Feeders

🌻 Bird Food

🦔 Hedgehog Food

All available with a 10% discount until the end of December.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Whether you’re planting garlic, preparing for winter, experimenting with no-dig methods or simply tidying the greenhouse, there’s still plenty to keep gardeners busy over the coming weeks.

Wishing you all a productive and enjoyable autumn on the plots.

Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

🎃 With Hallowe’en approaching, thoughts turn to ghosts and ghouls. You may already be choosing home-grown pumpkins to carve into spooky faces for the night.

To pick the best pumpkin for carving, look for a firm, deep-orange pumpkin with a sturdy, healthy stem and a flat bottom so it sits steadily without wobbling.

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🎃 Ready to Store Your Squashes

To prepare squash and pumpkins for storage:

✅ Harvest them when fully mature, leaving a short length of stem attached.

✅ Handle them carefully to avoid cuts or bruises.

✅ Wipe away loose soil with a dry cloth rather than washing them.

✅ Cure them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place for 7 to 14 days to harden the skin and seal minor scratches.

✅ Inspect each one and use any damaged or soft specimens first.

✅ Store sound squash and pumpkins in a cool, dry, frost-free area with good air circulation.

✅ Keep them off damp floors and slightly apart so rot cannot spread easily.

🔍 Check them regularly and remove any showing mould, soft spots, or decay.

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🏡 Hut Opening Hours Update

⚠️ Please note: As most members know, we move to Saturday-only opening during November and December.

October

📅 Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October
🕤 Open as normal: 9:30am to 12 noon

📅 Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th October
🕤 Open as normal: 9:30am to 12 noon

Then it changes to:

📅 Saturday 31st October
🕤 Open 9:30am to 12 noon

❌ Sunday 1st November
Closed

November

📅 Saturdays 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th November
🕤 Open 9:30am to 12 noon

December

📅 Saturdays 5th and 12th December
🕤 Open 9:30am to 12 noon

🔒 After these dates we are CLOSED.

🌱 We reopen on Saturday 9th January 2027, returning to normal Saturday and Sunday opening.

🕤 Opening hours will be 9:30am to 12 noon until 30th May.

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🌱 What You Can Sow Now

🥬 Vegetables

• Cauliflower ‘Barcelona’
• Cauliflower ‘All The Year Round’
• Winter-hardy spring onions
• Spinach ‘Colusa’
• Pea shoots (‘Serge’)

🌿 Sow Outdoors

• Pea ‘Douce Provence’
• Pea ‘Meteor’

🌸 Flowers

• Achillea ‘Summer Berries’
• Delphinium ‘Magic Fountains’
• Sweet Peas

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🥔 Check Your Stored Produce

🔍 Keep checking any onions or potatoes you are storing for winter and remove any that are starting to spoil.

🐭 Check any recently purchased onion or shallot sets that have not yet been planted to ensure nothing is nibbling them.

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💡 Top Tips for October

🛒 Check garden centres and other stores for end-of-season bargains.

🪵 Collect bean poles and garden supports, clean them, and store them ready for next year.

♻️ Fill compost bins as you clear the plot and allow material to rot down for next year’s mulch.

🌱 Check your seed stocks and expiry dates. Many older seeds will still germinate, but success rates may be lower.

🧅 If you sowed Senshyu onions in August, October is a good time to plant them out on the plot.

🍂 Collect fallen leaves and make leaf mould. Simply place them in a black bag, make a few holes, and leave it at the back of the plot.

🧼 Once the greenhouse is empty, give it a thorough clean. The same applies to polytunnels.

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🍅 Tough Skins on My Tomatoes

I was recently asked why some tomatoes develop tough skins. It turns out several factors can be responsible:

☀️ Heat and Sun
High temperatures and strong sunshine can cause tomatoes to develop thicker skins to reduce moisture loss and protect against sunscald.

💧 Inconsistent Watering
Allowing plants to dry out completely before heavy watering can stress the plant and produce tougher skins.

🧬 Genetics
Some varieties, such as Roma, plum, cherry, and crack-resistant types, naturally have thicker skins.

🧪 Over-Feeding
Too much high-potash or unbalanced fertiliser can lead to tougher fruit skins.

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🐦 Special Offer

🎉 10% OFF from October through December

🐦 All bird feeders and bird food

🌻 Happy Gardening!

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

🍂 October on the Allotment

Dear Member,

October is a vital transition month on the allotment, focused on harvesting final summer crops, clearing spent plants, and preparing your soil for winter. 🥕🍅

Gather any remaining runner beans, squashes and pumpkins before hard frosts arrive. ❄️ “Cure” pumpkins and squashes by leaving them in the sun or a dry, airy spot to harden their skins for storage. 🎃

🌱 Improve Your Soil

Spread a 5cm layer of well-rotted manure over empty beds, allowing worms to naturally work it into the ground over winter. Alternatively, sow a green manure crop on bare patches. 🌿

♻️ Tidy the Compost Heap

Add healthy green waste and fallen autumn leaves to your compost area. 🍁

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🥬 Jobs for October: Vegetables

✅ Keep checking any tomatoes you have put aside to ripen on a windowsill or in the greenhouse. 🍅

✅ Most leeks will stand into winter, but any early sowings can be harvested now. 🧄

✅ Dig up your maincrop potatoes if you have not already done so. 🥔

✅ Pick and clear any remaining peas and runner beans. Continue harvesting:

• Chard 🌿
• Spinach 🥬
• Carrots 🥕
• Celeriac 🌰
• Lettuce 🥗
• Oriental vegetables 🥬

✅ I planted Florence fennel in July as an experiment. If you sowed yours earlier, lift and store any bulbs before they are damaged by frost. ❄️

✅ Towards the end of the month, sow winter lettuce and a couple of short rows of hardy peas and broad beans for an early crop next spring. 🌱

✅ Plant out spring cabbage and overwintering onions and garlic. It is also an excellent time to plant rhubarb crowns. 🧄🧅

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🏡 Jobs for October: In the Greenhouse

✅ I have just cleared my greenhouse of all plants and given it a thorough clean. 🧽

✅ I will be insulating it with bubble wrap to protect tender plants stored over winter. If you prefer not to do this, several layers of newspaper provide an effective alternative when frost is forecast. 📰❄️

✅ Wrapping plant pots in bubble wrap also helps insulate their roots. 🪴

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🌸 Jobs for October: Flowers

✅ Remove pot saucers and raise pots onto feet to prevent waterlogging over winter. 🌧️

✅ Empty spent summer pots and hanging baskets and add the contents to your compost heap. ♻️

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🧅 Check Your Onion & Shallot Sets

If you have recently bought onion or shallot sets and do not intend to plant them yet, remove them from the mesh bags immediately.

⚠️ Never leave them bundled together as they can trap moisture and rot.

✅ Store them in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area until needed.

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🧄 Garlic Cloves

For anyone new to allotments, a garlic bulb consists of around 8 to 12 individual cloves.

👉 Each clove should be planted separately.

I know this sounds obvious, but I once knew a chap who planted the whole bulb! 😄 We had to dig it up and replant all the cloves individually.

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🎉 WHGAA AGM

🏆 The Association’s 50th Annual General Meeting will take place at:

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

📅 Friday 2 October

🚪 Doors open: 7:15pm
⏰ Meeting starts: 7:30pm

☕ Refreshments will be available, and we hope to see you there.

💙 We will also be presenting the final cheque to Willen Hospice, who will give a short presentation about their valuable work after the meeting.

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🌐 Check Our Website

Our website is constantly being updated, and a recent addition is the photographs from the Produce & Allotment Show. 📸

Whilst we had more entries this year, we would still love to see even more members entering their produce in 2027. 🏆

We often hear members say that their produce was better than what was on display… but they still do not enter! 😊

👉 Remember, the show is organised exclusively for fully paid-up members and is not open to non-members.

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🐦 Special Offer: October to December

🎁 10% Off

All bird feeders and bird food.

🐦🌻 Take advantage of the offer while stocks last!

🌻 Happy Gardening!

Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

🌱 The growing season picks up this month

You can plant your onion and shallot sets, as well as any garlic you may have recently purchased. If you have not bought them yet, we still have a range available from The Hut. If you are not prepared for planting yet, you can still do so until the middle of November.

💡 A quick note about gardening advice

I keep being asked various questions testing my knowledge of growing techniques, which I assume is because of my weekly email to members. I must point out that whilst I have been growing vegetables for a very long time, I am not an expert. I do my best to pass on correct information from articles I see in books, on the internet, and in magazines. We all have different ideas about what to do on our plots and in the garden, and my suggestions should only be used as a guide.

🫘 Broad Beans

You can sow your broad beans between October and November for an early crop around February. I tend to grow them in pots to ensure they germinate, but you can also sow directly into the ground.

☀️ Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered growing site with well-drained soil. Weed the area thoroughly, then fork in plenty of well-rotted manure. Sow the seeds, with the scar facing downwards, 2-3 inches deep and in rows 6-9 inches apart.

📅 Alternatively, you can wait until February to sow them for a harvest around the end of June.

🌸 Sweet Peas

Sow in September or October and overwinter plants in a frost-free, cool place for very early flowers. When seedlings reach 10-15cm tall, pinch out the growing tip just above a leaf joint to encourage a bushier plant with more flowers.

🌼 You can also sow between January and April for blooms in the same year.

🟢 Peas

Some members like to grow peas over the winter.

✅ Meteor: A very frost-hardy, short dwarf variety (growing up to 45cm) that resists winter weather and spring storms.

✅ Douce Provence: A dwarf variety growing to about 75cm with sweet, succulent pods.

🛒 Special Orders

If you ever want 230L water butts (or other sizes), garden forks, spades, wheelbarrows, or any other gardening-related item, please contact Martyn at:

📧 mrobinson654@btinternet.com

He will provide details of what is available and the current prices. This is a new service we are offering and is strictly on a payment-in-advance basis.

💧 Drought-Tolerant Flowers and Vegetables

With the likelihood of another dry summer in 2027, I have been investigating which flowers and vegetables are drought tolerant.

⚠️ However, drought tolerant does not mean no water. Seeds and young plants need consistent moisture whilst establishing. Mature plants generally cope much better with short dry spells.

🌻 I will be suggesting various options during the coming weeks.

🏆 WHGAA AGM

The Association’s 50th Annual General Meeting will take place at the River Valley Centre, White Horse Drive, Emerson Valley, MK4 2AS on Friday 2nd October.

📅  Friday 2nd October – put a note in your diary!

🚪 Doors open at 7:15pm and the meeting starts at 7:30pm.

💙 We will be presenting the final cheque to Willen Hospice, who will also give a short presentation after the meeting about their work.

❤️ Chosen Charity 2027

First, a big thank you to everyone who has donated to Willen Hospice during the last year.

🎉 Around £1,300 has been raised, mainly from the raised beds available in January and from the sale of vegetable plants in April. We also added to the fund during our 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and through many members who rounded up their purchases at The Hut.

🎗️ From 1st October 2026, we have decided to support a new charity: Prostate Cancer UK

🙏 We hope you will continue to make small donations by rounding up your purchases whenever you visit The Hut.

🎁 10% Offer for September

Save 10% on selected Westland’s Bonsai, Rose, Citrus and Houseplant Composts.

🌿 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman
Membership Secretary

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

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

Dear Member,

🌞 Late‑Season Growing

Normally in September we begin clearing plots, but with the warm weather things are different this year. It’s worth leaving produce growing a little longer to squeeze out a few more vegetables for the table (or freezer).

🥔 Potatoes should not be left in the ground much longer — they will get eaten and won’t store well over winter.

🧅 Prepare for Autumn Planting

Your soil may be very hard, making digging difficult, but do try to prepare an area for your onion sets, shallots, and garlic.

These are generally planted in October / November so they can establish before winter.

🏆 WHGAA Garden & Allotment Produce Show

It’s time to get your produce ready — onions, brassicas, flowers… take a look around and decide what you’ll be entering.

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

📅 This Saturday, 5th September

🕤 Entries accepted: 9:30–12 noon (doors close for judging)

🕑 Viewing: From 2pm — members, entrants, and friends welcome

🏅 Prizegiving: 2:30pm by Kevin Whately

🔨 Auction: Donated produce auctioned afterwards, with all proceeds going to charity

🌿 On the Plot

• 🎃 Pumpkins & Squash — Cut back leaves shading fruits so the sun can ripen skins for winter storage. Pick before frosts.
• 🌿 Herbs — Pot up chives, mint, and parsley for a sunny windowsill through winter.
• 🧹 Paths & Borders — Weeding and edging now saves heavy work later in the wet season.
• 🌻 Sunflowers — Leave seed heads for birds.

🌱 Still Time to Sow

• 🥬 Spinach — Thrives in cool autumn soil.
• 🫘 Broad Beans — Autumn sowing gives strong roots and earlier spring harvests. Mick pots them first to establish before planting out.

🌼 Plant Spring Bulbs

Get daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths in the ground now.

🌷 Tulips — Hold until November.

All available from The Hut.

🎄 Get Ready for a Christmas Display

Time to plant Amaryllis and Hyacinths for Christmas flowering.

• 🌺 Amaryllis: 6–10 weeks
• 🌸 Hyacinths: 11–14 weeks (require a spell in the dark)

A good range is available at The Hut — grab them while stocks last.

🐌 Slug Control

Warm weather may have caused complaints, but one thing stands out: NO SLUGS.

Sales of slug pellets at The Hut are well down compared to previous years.

📋 Planning Ahead

• 🌾 Collect Seeds — Save from your best plants, dry, label, and store.
• 🔄 Plan Crop Rotation — Helps reduce soil‑borne disease and balance nutrients.
• 🛠️ Tools — Clean and sharpen ready for next year.

🌷 Spring Flowering Bulbs – Now in The Hut

• Amaryllis – £7.25 (or any two for £13.50)
• Hyacinths – £4.25 per pack (or any two for £7.50)
• Tulips – £4.40 per pack (or any two for £8)
• Narcissi – £3.75 per pack (or any two for £6.50)

Plus Alliums, Crocus, and Fritillaria.

📣 WHGAA AGM – 50th Anniversary

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

📅 Friday 2nd October

Please add it to your diary.

🛍️ September Offers

• 10% off Westlands bonsai, rose, citrus, and houseplant composts
• 50% discount continues for selected August sale items

🌼 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

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

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