🌼 Bringing Colour to the Plot This Spring

Dear Member,

My allotment gardening always focuses on the vegetables I can grow — I leave the flowers to my wife. As a result, most of my weekly articles are veg‑based, but there’s always room for flowers to brighten up the plot.

🌸 Cosmos

Add some cheer to your garden or allotment with these wonderful blooms — they’re great for attracting pollinators too.

Cosmos are half‑hardy annuals, meaning they flower all summer but cannot withstand frost.

• 🌱 Sow under cover in April for earlier, more abundant blooms
• 🌤️ Outdoor sowing from May to early June, once frost risk has passed
• 🐝 Excellent for bees and beneficial insects

🌻 Sunflowers

Growing sunflowers from seed is easy — all you need is a sunny, sheltered spot and good soil.

• 🌱 Enrich soil with compost or well‑rotted manure
• 🐌 Protect young plants from slugs and snails
• 💧 Water regularly
• 🪢 Stake if growing in an exposed position

Choose your variety carefully:

• Dwarf types: ~50cm
• Tall varieties: up to 3m

Sow seeds in pots from April and plant out a few weeks later.

For height, feed weekly with a nitrogen‑rich fertiliser and stake taller varieties.

💐 Cut Flower Seeds – New at The Hut

New this year is a range of cut‑flower seeds ideal for growing at home or on the allotment.

• ✂️ Cut mature stems for vases, bouquets or arrangements
• 🌈 Mix colours, shapes and textures for beautiful displays
• 🔁 Many varieties flower again when regularly cut

A great way to bring colour indoors and support pollinators outdoors.

🪴 Plants for Sale

The first vegetable plants went on sale last weekend — lots of interest and lots sold.

I still have plenty of stock, so there will be more available at The Hut this weekend.

🥕 Carrot Root Fly

Carrot root fly is a tiny insect that attacks carrots, celery, celeriac and parsnips.

They become active in May, so now is the time to protect April sowings.

• 🕸️ Cover with fine vegetable mesh
• 🌱 Drape over hoops or lay directly on the ground
• 🚫 Ensure no gaps for flies to enter

I’ve never done this myself, but I may give it a try this year.

🐦 Feeding the Birds – New RSPB Advice

The RSPB now advises not feeding birds using feeders between May and October due to the spread of disease.

✔️ Do:

• 🧼 Clean feeders and water baths weekly
• 🔄 Move feeders regularly to prevent disease build‑up

❌ Avoid:

• Flat surfaces such as tables or tray‑style feeders

🌿 Instead, plant bird‑friendly species:

• 🌻 Sunflowers
• 🌾 Teasels
• 🌿 Ivy

These provide natural food sources and support healthy bird populations.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

🎉 50th Anniversary Celebration – This Weekend!

Dear Member,

It has finally arrived — WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND!

What better time to stock up on essentials such as tomato food, slug pellets, MP compost and netting? Most of you have already bought your seeds for this year, but with an extra 5% or 10% off this weekend, why not stock up for next year too?

EVERYTHING is reduced, depending on which day you visit The Hut.

We expect some items — especially composts — to sell out quickly, but we’ve done our best to meet demand.

All competitions are now closed, and the list of winners will be announced this weekend.

📅 Weekend Schedule

Saturday 11th April – 5% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–12 noon

All members receive 5% off all purchases.

Sunday 12th April – 10% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–2pm

⭐ 10% off all purchases

🥨 Light nibbles available

🏆 Competition results announced

🎖️ The Mayor will visit around midday

💙 A representative from Willen Hospice will attend to receive the total donations raised so far

Please make every effort to come along and celebrate with us.

🛒 Back in Stock

• 🌱 Thatcher’s 60L compost (60L) is now available again — but with this weekend’s discounts, it may not last long.
• 🌿 Replacement for Erin compost is now Clover.

🌿 Growing Tips from Mick

🌱 Broad Beans

My broad beans, planted a few weeks ago, are now growing well. Soon they’ll need support to prevent them falling over.

I place 4ft canes at 3ft intervals around the double row, then use string or twine to tie along and across the row. As they grow taller, I add more string to support the tops.

🥒 Courgettes

Courgettes are easy to grow from seed, and just a few plants will keep you well supplied all summer.

I recommend no more than three plants.

Try different varieties:

• 💛 Atena Polka (yellow)
• 💚 Zucchini (green)
• 🟢 Boldenice F1 (round green)

🫘 Runner Beans

Many people plant out runner beans in May, meaning they were sown in April — a risk, as they dislike the cold.

I sow mine in mid‑May, two seeds per jiffy pot. They’re ready to plant out in early June.

To protect them from cold or wind, I place 2ft-high plastic sheeting around the outside and remove it once the weather warms.

🌼 Plants for Sale

There will be no plant sales this weekend due to the anniversary celebrations.

Most plants need another two weeks of growth anyway.

The big rush will begin Saturday 18th April, when we’ll have:

• 🌶️ Peppers
• 🍅 Tomatoes
• 🍆 Aubergines

Cucumbers were sown later due to limited greenhouse space, so they may need an extra week.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

🎉 50th Anniversary Celebration – This Weekend!

Dear Member,

It has finally arrived — WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND!

What better time to stock up on essentials such as tomato food, slug pellets, MP compost and netting? Most of you have already bought your seeds for this year, but with an extra 5% or 10% off this weekend, why not stock up for next year too?

EVERYTHING is reduced, depending on which day you visit The Hut.

We expect some items — especially composts — to sell out quickly, but we’ve done our best to meet demand.

All competitions are now closed, and the list of winners will be announced this weekend.

📅 Weekend Schedule

Saturday 11th April – 5% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–12 noon

5% off purchases for all members

Sunday 12th April – 10% Discount

🕙 Open 10am–2pm

⭐ 10% off purchases for all members

🥨 Light nibbles available

🏆 Competition results announced

🎖️ The Mayor will visit around midday

💙 A representative from Willen Hospice will attend to receive the total donations raised so far

Please make every effort to come along and celebrate with us.

🛒 Back in Stock

• 🌱 Thatcher’s 60L compost (60L) is now available again — but with this weekend’s discounts, it may not last long.
• 🌿 Replacement for Erin compost is now Clover.

🌿 Growing Tips from Mick

🌱 Broad Beans

My broad beans, planted a few weeks ago, are now growing well. Soon they’ll need support to prevent them falling over.

I place 4ft canes at 3ft intervals around the double row, then use string or twine to tie along and across the row. As they grow taller, I add more string to support the tops.

🥒 Courgettes

Courgettes are easy to grow from seed, and just a few plants will keep you well supplied all summer.

I recommend no more than three plants.

Try different varieties:

• 💛 Atena Polka (yellow)
• 💚 Zucchini (green)
• 🟢 Boldenice F1 (round green)

🫘 Runner Beans

Many people plant out runner beans in May, meaning they were sown in April — a risk, as they dislike the cold.

I sow mine in mid‑May, two seeds per jiffy pot. They’re ready to plant out in early June.

To protect them from cold or wind, I place 2ft-high plastic sheeting around the outside and remove it once the weather warms.

🌼 Plants for Sale

There will be no plant sales this weekend due to the anniversary celebrations.

Most plants need another two weeks of growth anyway.

The big rush will begin Saturday 18th April, when we’ll have:

• 🌶️ Peppers
• 🍅 Tomatoes
• 🍆 Aubergines

Cucumbers were sown later due to limited greenhouse space, so they may need an extra week.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

🌤️ Easter on the Allotment

For me, Easter marks the real start of the growing season.

With longer days and (hopefully) warmer weather, it’s all systems go.

This week I’ll be:

• Planting all my seed potatoes
• Sowing parsnips, beetroot, carrots and more
• Watching the peas I sowed earlier begin to show
• Making space for the onion seedlings sown in December, ready to mature from July

This weekend also brings the first sweet and chilli plants for sale (details below), and as always, The Hut will be open as normal.

🪴 Compost Update

We’ve been advised that Erin Multi‑Purpose will no longer be available.

Once current stock is gone, it will be replaced with Clover MP.

This weekend:

• ❌ No Thatchers 60L bags
• ✔️ Thatchers 40L bags still available

⏰ Hut Opening Hours – Easter Weekend

Saturday 4th April: 10am – 12 noon

Sunday 5th April: 10am – 12 noon

🌶️ Plants for Sale This Weekend

Space in the greenhouse is tight this year, so to make room I’ll be bringing the following plants to The Hut.

All plants are 75p each, with 25p donated to Willen Hospice.

Available This Weekend

🫑 Sweet Peppers

• Beauty Bell (16)
• Fiesta (16)
• Mixed (16)
• Marmara (17)

🌶️ Chilli Peppers

• Fiery Tongues (14)
• Gourmet Jalapeño (21)

🍆 Aubergine

• Black Beauty (15)

🍅 Tomatoes

• A few may be available (to be confirmed)

🪲 Allium Leaf Miner – Reminder

First mentioned on 20th February, but worth repeating.

This pest affects:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Leeks
• Shallots

Signs to watch for:

• Cream‑coloured maggots inside leaves
• Small holes on foliage
• Fungal infections and later rotting

Prevention:

• Cover crops with fleece
• Practice crop rotation
• Monitor for adult flies on plants

🌞 Under Cover – Greenhouse Shading

Warmer days are coming, so consider your shading options:

• Liquid shading – £7.80 (paint onto the outside of the greenhouse)
• Shading net – £2.67 per metre

Both available from The Hut.

🥔 Seed Potatoes

• Second earlies: Plant over the next two weeks
• Main crop: End of the month
• I personally plant mine now, and it works well

🎟️ Members Prize Draw

The prize draw has now finished, but 13 vouchers remain unclaimed.

They can be claimed and used this weekend only.

Not valid after 5th April.

🏆 Competitions Update

With just two weeks until our 50th anniversary, time is running out to enter:

• 🗺️ Treasure Hunt
• 🍰 Guess the Weight of the Cake
• 🫘 Guess the Beans in the Jar

All winners announced Sunday 12th April.

All entry fees go to Willen Hospice — please join in the fun.

🎉 50th Anniversary Celebrations

We hope you’ll join us during the weekend of 11th & 12th April.

Saturday 11th April

🕙 10am – 12 noon

⭐ 5% discount on all purchases

Sunday 12th April

🕙 10am – 2pm

⭐ 10% discount on all purchases

🥨 Nibbles available

🏆 Competition results announced

🎖️ Mayor attending around midday

💙 Willen Hospice representative present to receive the donation total

Please come along and celebrate with us.

❌ No April 10% Offer

Due to the anniversary weekend, there is no monthly 10% offer for April.

Happy Gardening,

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

🥔 Seed Potatoes & Bulbs

If you still need seed potatoes — or fancy adding a few more — we have a small selection left, along with garlic, a handful of onion sets, and the last of the summer‑flowering bulbs.

Peppers and tomato plants will be available very soon (see below).

🎟️ Membership Prize Draw

The final three numbers will be drawn this weekend as the free prize draw comes to an end.

All vouchers must be used by 5 April, so please claim your £10 voucher promptly.

🥕 Growing Carrots

For the past few years I’ve grown carrots in large pots using Thatcher’s compost.

After mixed results, I discovered that sowing into John Innes No.2 gives far better germination.

My method now:

• Fill most of the pot/bed with Thatcher’s
• Add a top layer of John Innes No.2
• Sow into that layer for stronger, more reliable growth

It works beautifully in raised beds too.

🌿 Sow Your Peas

I’ve just sown all my peas for the year. A helpful tip:

Soak peas for 12 hours before sowing — they should be 5–7 days ahead in growth.

My method:

• Use jiffy pots
• Place 3–4 seeds in each
• Plant out the whole pot when ready — easier on the soil and gentler on the roots

🫑 Plants for Sale – Update

Our peppers are looking excellent, so they will be on sale:

🗓️ Saturday 4 April & Sunday 5 April

• Price: 75p per plant
• Donation: 25p from each sale goes to Willen Hospice

There will be no peppers or tomatoes on sale the following weekend (11th & 12th) due to our 50th anniversary celebrations.

A small number of tomato plants may be available on 4–5 April.

Please bring your own tray or container, as we have none to give away this year.

🌼 Time to Get Started With

You should now be planting:

• Onion sets
• Shallots
• Garlic
• Early seed potatoes

When planting potatoes, add a handful of potato fertiliser (or chicken pellets) into the hole and surrounding soil before covering.

🌱 Time to Sow

You can sow these directly into the ground now:

• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Beetroot
• Spinach
• Spring onions
• Peas
• Radish
• Broad beans
• Lettuce

Sow these in modules to grow on before transplanting:

• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Leeks

Courgettes and squashes are best started in mid‑May, but if you can keep them frost‑free, you can start them now.

🏆 Competitions Update

Still time to join in:

• Treasure Map: A few squares left — pick 5 squares for £1.
• Guess the Beans in the Jar
• Guess the Weight of the Cake (winner takes the cake!)

All competitions close Sunday 12 April, with results announced the same day.

🎉 WHGAA 50th Anniversary Celebrations

As announced last week, members will receive special discounts:

Saturday 11 April

🕙 10am–12 noon

⭐ 5% discount on all purchases

Sunday 12 April

🕙 10am–2pm

⭐ 10% discount on all purchases

🥨 Nibbles available

🏆 Competition results announced

🎖️ Mayor attending around midday

💙 Willen Hospice representative present to receive the donation total

Please come along, join in, and celebrate with us.

💰 Fertiliser Offer Ends This Weekend

The 10% discount on all WHGAA bagged fertiliser ends this weekend.

Prices have been reduced on 2.5kg, 5kg, and 25kg bags.

Happy Gardening,

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

Things are in full swing now, and it’s a busy time on the allotments. Many of you will be preparing beds, sowing seeds, or transplanting seedlings started in the greenhouse a few weeks ago. Early seed potatoes can be planted out if you haven’t already done so. Successional sowings of beetroot, carrots, and lettuces will help keep a steady supply and avoid gluts later in the season. It’s also the right moment to think about sowing parsnips, leeks, and turnips.

🌐 Our New‑Look Website

Have you visited the WHGAA website recently? It’s had a major refresh and now includes much more information, updates, and resources for members.

Take a look: whgaa.org

🥔 Growing Better Swedes

It’s been a long time since many of us have managed a really good swede crop. Last year’s bought‑in plants didn’t perform well, and advice online is mixed: some say swedes must be sown directly into the soil, while others recommend starting them in pots or modules.

Swede is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be grown at home. Grow them yourself for organic produce with better flavour than shop-bought swedes. Sown in late spring, they’ll be ready to harvest for warming and hearty meals in the depths of winter.

Here’s a simple, reliable method:

• Create a shallow drill using a trowel or even your finger along a straight edge.
• Place labels at each end so you can find your row later—sticks will do if labels aren’t handy.
• Water the drill gently.
• Sow seeds about 5cm apart.
• Once seedlings are growing well, thin them to 20cm spacing.
• Cover lightly with soil and hope for the best.

As swedes are brassicas, remember to net them—pigeons love a nibble.

🌿 Sowing Peas

Starting peas undercover in modules or jiffy pots helps ensure good germination and protects them from rodents. When seedlings reach around 10cm tall, using a dibber or trowel, plant out the whole clump of three seedlings:

• Space clumps 8cm apart in a row.
• For double rows, leave 30cm between rows.
• Support with twigs or netting as they grow.

🎟️ Members’ Prize Draw

Only two more draws remain, and several prizes are still unclaimed. Pop down to the hut to check your numbers—and while you’re there, why not enter our competitions?

🌱 Plants for Sale

Peppers, aubergines, and tomatoes are growing well and should be available around the third week of April. Tomato varieties Harbinger and Moneymaker have shown poor germination this year—has anyone else noticed the same?

Plants this year will be 75p each, with 25p donated to Willen Hospice. Based on last year’s sales, we expect to raise over £300.

Cucumbers and melons will follow in early May.

🏆 Competitions Update

Just three weeks left to enter any of our three fundraising competitions:

• Treasure Map – pick five squares for £1; there are 23 prizes available
• Guess the Beans in the Jar – win £10
• Guess the Weight of the Cake – and win the cake itself

All entry fees go directly to Willen Hospice. Join in the fun and support a great cause.

🎉 50th Anniversary Celebrations

The secret’s out! If you’ve visited the website, you’ll know we’re offering:

Saturday 11th April

🛒 5% discount on all purchases

🕙 Open 10am–12 noon

Sunday 12th April – Our 50th Anniversary!

🎉 10% discount on all purchases

🕙 Open 10am–2pm

👋 The Mayor and a representative from Willen Hospice will join us around midday to receive this year’s fundraising total.

🍪 Light nibbles will be available, and competition winners will be announced.

Please mark the date—we’d love to celebrate with you.

🧪 Fertiliser Offers

Our 10% discount on all WHGAA‑bagged fertilisers continues until the end of March.

We’ve also reduced prices on all 2.5kg, 5kg, and 25kg bags.

Dear Member,

March is a busy month for sowing but be aware that we may still get some cold nights so any seeds sown may need protection. March is the time to start sowing vegetables outdoors like peas, carrots and beetroot. I like to also sow the spring onions out now as they take a while to mature. There is still time to sow broad beans direct into the ground and you may be considering starting your parsnips. 

Membership prize draw: 

Winning numbers still not claimed. If these three numbers appear on your membership card in this order, 30?4, 32?0. 32?0 or 33?3 then maybe you should get to The Hut. There’s a £10 voucher to spend in The Hut if you are a winner. More next week.

Onion and Shallot sets and Garlic: 

Get planting onion, shallot and garlic sets now for a bit of punchy flavour in your future meals. Keep checking the onions as the birds may mistake the tops for worms and pull them up out of the ground. If you have bought garlic them break down the bulb and plant each clove individually.

In the greenhouse: 

If you covered your greenhouse in bubble wrap or another kind of insulation, consider taking it down now to allow more light to pour in. Watch the weather though as we may just get some more cold days yet.

Cutting the lawn: 

If you are intending to cut your grass then keep the mower blades high to start with, lowering them gradually over the next few cuts as the ground warms up and dries out. It’s also worth doing a spot of weeding in the lawn now so that the grass has a chance to root into the gaps you make.

Don’t forget the hedgehogs: 

I keep hearing that members have hedgehogs that visit their garden, March is the time when they come out of hibernation and they may need supplementary food. Boost hedgehog food sources by making piles of leaves and wood to attract beetles. 

The vegetable patch: 

You can plant bare root asparagus crowns this month, providing that the soil is draining well. Choose an open sunny space but be prepared to wait, they take a couple of years to get established. If you have planted cabbages or any other brassicas outside, now is a good time to give them a dose of nitrogen-rich fertiliser to help them along. If you are preparing your brassica bed, then you could spread some lime in the area to increase the Ph value which they thrive on.

Competitions update: 

All three competitions are now in full swing with the results to be announced on Sunday April 12^th. Most interest appears to be with the treasure map and all you must do is pick five squares on the map for a £1 entry fee, there are 23 prizes on offer.

The ‘guess the beans in the jar’ continues and the final competition which started last weekend was to guess the weight of the cake (to win it).

ALL entry fees will be donated to the Willen Hospice so please enter the fun by having a go.

50^th anniversary celebrations: 

On Sunday April 12^th The Hut will be open between 10am and 2pm as we are hoping that many of you will be joining in with the celebrations planned. The results of the competitions will be announced, and we are expecting the mayor to attend as well as the presentation to Willen Hospice of the money raised so far. We would love to see you there so please make a note in your diary now. Keep an eye on the weekly newsletter for special offer updates.

The 10% off all WHGAA bagged fertiliser has been extended for March.

We have reduced the price of all 2.5Kg and 5Kg bags of fertilisers as well as the 25Kg bags.

If you do not want to receive this weekly email, then you need to let me know by emailing me using: whgaa2801@gmail.com.

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

We continue to draw three member numbers each weekend, but we still have 15 unclaimed £10 vouchers. For this week, if these three numbers appear on your membership card in this order, 33?4, 34?9. 35?0 or 37?0 then maybe you should get to The Hut. More next week.

The 50^th anniversary competitions are now in full swing.

Treasure map: 

Just pick five locations on the map of Milton Keynes for £1. There are 26 prizes on offer.

Guess the number of beans in the jar:

50p a guess to win a £10 voucher to spend in The Hut.

And the last competition was started last weekend:

Guess the weight of the cake: 

50p a guess to win the cake. A very fruity, boozy cake I am told.

All entry fees will go towards the Willen Hospice so please support these when you next visit The Hut.

Round it up for charity:

So many of you are ‘donating’ your change by rounding up your purchase to the nearest pound. Many thanks to those that have donated so far.

Growing parsnips: 

We all have methods to ensure we grow a good parsnip. Some like to spread the seed on kitchen paper, keep it moist and leave in a warm place until planting on. Others like to use the root trainers which can work but you need to plant them out once you see two leaves forming. Sowing indoors is generally not recommended, as parsnips form a tap root that doesn’t transplant well but with care it can work.

Parsnips have a reputation for being tricky to germinate, but if you wait until the soil has warmed up in mid-spring, use fresh seeds and sow plenty, you should have good results. Sowings made in March and April, and even early May, tend to do much better. Covering the soil with cloches for a couple of weeks before sowing also helps to dry it out and warm up the soil.  Prepare the soil by removing as many stones as possible and loosen heavy clay or compacted soil, so your parsnips grow long, straight roots that don’t fork. Don’t dig in any organic manure immediately before sowing, as this can also cause roots to branch and fork.

Sowing Seeds yet?

I have sown all the peppers (chilli and sweet) which will be on sale in mid-April but due to the lack of sun you need to be very careful with watering. Overwatering tiny seedlings can lead to serious problems. Young crops need plenty of moisture but saturating soil on a regular basis can encourage soil borne fungi to spread. If you notice brown patches on the stems, then it’s likely this is the problem. Last year I lost a lot of plants and because of the lack of sun so far, I have a few dying back.

Plenty of flower and vegetable crops can be sown in March, as the days begin to lengthen and become warmer. March is a good time to sow hardy vegetables (peas, broad beans, carrots, beetroot, salad leaves, parsnips) and planting onion/garlic sets. Under cover, start heat-loving seeds like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Seed Potatoes: 

Keep an eye on your seed potatoes, assuming you are chitting them, but don’t be too hasty to plant them in the ground. Plant them too early and any growth may appear when there are still frosts around meaning you will have to cover them with fleece to protect them or rake earth over them to cover. 

As a guide:

    First earlies – plant around late March

    Second earlies – plant in early to mid-April

    Maincrops – plant in mid-April to early May

If you don’t have space in the ground, you can grow potatoes in large containers, where they’ll produce a decent crop. Early varieties are the most suitable, as the plants are smaller and mature more quickly.

Hardy annuals such as cornflowers and poppies can also now be sown direct outside, where they are to flower. These do best on ‘poor’ soil, so don’t enrich it with fertiliser. Half-hardy annuals such as dahlias, zinnias and perennials are best sown under glass and should be planted out into fertile soil after all risk of frost has passed.

The 10% off all WHGAA bagged fertiliser has been extended for March.

We have reduced the price of all 2.5Kg and 5Kg bags of fertilisers as well as the 25Kg bags.

If you do not want to receive this weekly email, then you need to let me know by emailing me using: whgaa2801@gmail.com.

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

🌿 Member Update

Dear Member,

Interest is really building as we head towards The Hut’s 50th anniversary on April 12th. The treasure hunt and the guess the number of beans in the jar competition kicked off last weekend, along with our weekly membership prize draw. There are currently eleven unclaimed £10 vouchers, with another three to be drawn this weekend.

🌱 Multi‑Sowing in Modules 

Multi‑sowing means sowing more than one seed per cell in a module tray or pot. It’s a great way to grow more plants in less space while using less compost. It works particularly well for peas, beetroot, onions and leeks.

• Fill your modules or pots with compost, sow the seeds, and water.
• As a guide: sow three peas, four beetroot, six onions, and five leeks per cell.
• You can also multi‑sow directly into the ground by making a hole with a dibber and dropping the seeds in.

Seedlings are ready to plant out when they reach 6–8 cm tall, still in their clusters. When mature, you can harvest the whole clump or gently twist out one or two at a time. I tried this with onions a couple of years ago after over‑sowing, and the results were excellent — well worth giving it a go.

🌿 Sow Now

I’ve just sown my spring onions, along with the first radishes and beetroot of the year. Spring onions need a long growing season, but radishes and beetroot benefit from sowing every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply.

I also sowed a couple of varieties of lettuce in the greenhouse, though the seed was old and hasn’t germinated yet. Many of us have old packets lying around — they’re worth a try, but be prepared to sow fresh seed if needed.

🍅 Plants for Sale

All the sweet peppers, chilli peppers and aubergines for this year have now been sown and are growing well in the greenhouse. The first tomatoes have also been sown and have already germinated, so production is well underway.

These plants will be on sale in The Hut from mid‑April. Further sowings will include cucumbers and melons.

🔍 Keep Checking

If you’re chitting seed potatoes, keep an eye on them to make sure the most eyes are facing upwards — turn them if needed. Also check your onion and shallot sets to ensure nothing is nibbling them. Even better, start them off in pots to encourage root growth before planting out.

🥔 Still Time to Buy

We still have a good range of seed potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic available. If you haven’t bought yours yet — or need a few more — pop into The Hut this weekend. We also have a selection of summer‑flowering bulbs.

🎉 50th Anniversary Competitions

Treasure map: 

Pick five locations on the map of Milton Keynes for £1. There are 23 prizes to be won.

Guess the number of beans in the jar: 

50p per guess for a chance to win a £10 Hut voucher.

All entry fees go directly to Willen Hospice, so please support these when you next visit.

💛 Round It Up for Charity

A big thank‑you to everyone who has been rounding up their purchases to the nearest pound. Your donations are already making a difference.

📅 Heads Up: Anniversary Opening

On Sunday 12th April, our 50th anniversary, The Hut will be open from 10am to 2pm. Please add the date to your diary. Alongside some very special offers, we are expecting the Mayor to attend, and we will be presenting Willen Hospice with the funds raised so far. It would be wonderful to see members joining in the celebrations.

🌾 March Offer Extended

The 10% discount on all WHGAA bagged fertiliser has been extended through March. This includes 2.5kg, 5kg and 25kg bags.

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary

Dear Member,

We all like growing carrots, leeks and onions but I have suffered with pests and diseases that have affected my crop. My onions and leeks have been ruined with the allium leaf miner and the carrots with the carrot rust fly. It’s a challenge but below are some solutions to help reduce the problems.

Onions and leeks: 

The allium leaf miner is a significant threat that arrived in the UK in 2002. Small white maggots feed within the leaves, leading to yellowing, distortion, and rotting. They are active in spring (March–May) and autumn (August–November). By covering with fleece or a fine insect netting you can prevent or at least reduce the problem. Do not plant alliums in the same spot for 2–3 years to avoid emerging pests.

Carrots: 

Carrot Rust Fly is my biggest issue. Small black flies lay eggs near the soil surface. Cream-coloured larvae (maggots) tunnel into the roots, causing rust-coloured, stunted, and deformed carrots. By using a fine insect-proof mesh immediately after sowing will help to prevent adult flies from reaching the soil

Insect netting costs £3.90 per metre whilst Fleece is much cheaper at 40p per metre and is well worth it to protect your crop.

We have added a few NEW products to the shelves this week and I list them below.

Westland Houseplant Bug Control Spray: 

This is designed to effectively tackle a broad range of common indoor plant pests, including aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects and psyllids. Its fast-acting formula quickly gets to work, helping to stop infestations before they spread and cause lasting damage. 500ml for £4.50

Westland Pure Green Lawn Seed: 

Westland PureGreen Lawn Seed is a unique blend of premium grass varieties to deliver a dense, deep green lawn all year round. Price £10.50 for a box.

Westland Rose Specialist Planting Mix: 

Westland Rose Specialist Planting Mix is a premium, peat free blend expertly formulated to give roses exactly what they need to thrive. 10L bag for £3.55

And back in stock we have:

Westland Big Tom Super Tomato Food: 

Big Tom Super Tomato Food now gives you 3 x more, bigger, healthier as well as tastier tomatoes, all season long. 1L size (plus25%) is £4.35 and the 2L size is £6.60

Growmoor Salad and Vegetables Compost with Added John Innes: 

packed with Better Growing’s premium mix of environmentally friendly compost with added John Innes that produce fantastic results. Very popular last year. £6.75 for 50Ltr bag or £19.25 for three bags.

Grow bags: 

These are also back in stock. £4.40 for 35L bag or £12.55 for three bags.

50^th Anniversary: 

Have you bought your tote bag yet? They are just the right size to carry a few tools in when you visit the allotment, but the best thing is that we will donate £1 to the Willen Hospice for every one bought. 

Round it up for charity: 

Don’t forget to donate your change to the Willen Hospice each time you make a purchase at The Hut. 

Competitions: 

We have two competitions starting this weekend. Firstly, guess the number of beans in the jar. Entry fee is 50p a guess with a £10 prize for the nearest guess. The second is a treasure map of Milton Keynes. Simply select a location and cross your fingers. 25p a go or 5 for £1. We are giving away several prizes including bags of compost, seeds and other items. ALL entry fees will be donated to the Willen Hospice.

So please give this your full support.

The 10% offer on WHGAA bagged fertilisers will continue through March.

We have reduced the price of all 2.5Kg and 5Kg bags of fertilisers as well as the 25Kg bags.

If you do not want to receive this weekly email, then you need to let me know by emailing me using: whgaa2801@gmail.com.

Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary