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Special General Meeting
This will take place on Thursday 23rd October at 7.30 at the Institute, Woburn Sands. Details of the Business Plan will be put to members – as was requested at the AGM earlier this year.
The proposals involve an increase in Pole Charges so it is important that as many members as possible attend the meeting. The agenda for the meeting is with this newsletter – by email if you receive it electronically in print if you receive it in that format.
If you have not yet received your share certificate they will be available at the end of the meeting.
Membership matters
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ciff Hing who has been ill recently and bon voyage to Caroline Roofe who has given up her plot as she is moving to New Zealand.
This will take place on Thursday 23rd October at 7.30 at the Institute, Woburn Sands. Details of the Business Plan will be put to members – as was requested at the AGM earlier this year.
The proposals involve an increase in Pole Charges so it is important that as many members as possible attend the meeting. The agenda for the meeting is with this newsletter – by email if you receive it electronically in print if you receive it in that format.
If you have not yet received your share certificate they will be available at the end of the meeting.
Membership matters
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ciff Hing who has been ill recently and bon voyage to Caroline Roofe who has given up her plot as she is moving to New Zealand.
The waiting list continues to grow. It now stands at 22. We are no longer accepting any applicants from outside Woburn Sands.
Seeds/Potatoes/Manure
Please make sure you get your orders in by 30th September at the latest. Orders can be given to any Committee Member or sent to the Treasurer, Graham Porter (see orders papers for addresses). The Society does benefit through your orders – and so, therefore, do all members.
Drainage
The heavy rainfall in August and early September has put the new drainage system to the test. The water is now running freely and there seems to be an improvement in the plots at the bottom end of the field that were previously waterlogged.
If you do need to drive on the field – especially where the work has been carried out please try to avoid the ruts. The water pipe is apparently just 12” deep in places (it should have been buried at least 24” deep when it was installed some years ago).
A View from the Field – our monthly advice column from Peter Leadbeater
What needs to be done in September/October:
{ Continue to pick any remaining runner beans. When the crop has finished, take down the supports and store them to prevent damage such as broken canes caused by Autumn winds.
{ Dig the last of the maincrop potatoes on a fine day and store in a dark frost-free place. Use any damage tubers immediately.
{ Harvest cabbages, cauliflowers, beetroot, carrots, early leeks etc. as required.
{ Gather tree fruits as they ripen.
{ Due to the wet weather there has been a lot of weed growth, so, as any ground becomes available clear it in preparation for winter digging.
{ Plant out Spring cabbage, these will need to be protect from pigeons and other vermin.
{ Plant onion sets and garlic to overwinter. Set each garlic clove about 3” (75mm) deep. Autumn planted garlic generally produces a better crop than that set in the Spring.
{ On a suitable day, when the wind is not blowing towards the houses, burn material that is not suitable for composting, particularly that which can carry over disease eg. onions with white rot, broad beans, runner beans, brassica roots, potato haulms and tomatoes which have again suffered badly with blight this year due to the prolonged wet conditions.
{ Now is the time to start planning for next year. Order seeds, potatoes and manure. When doing this consider the performance of varieties of each vegetable grown. Whilst a poor result this year may be down to conditions, a change in variety may bring an improvement. It is only by doing this and listening to advice from other that you obtain better crops.
Pests: the next in our series of articles from our resident expert, Peter Leadbeater.
Cabbage White Fly
This is a tiny white moth-like insect found on brassicas all through the year. These and their larvae feed on the underside of the leaves, sucking the sap. They can be seen flying when the plants are disturbed. The main damage caused is a black mould that grows on the whiteflies’ excreta. If this becomes a real problem, spray about three times at seven day intervals. As this pest is nearly always present it will come back from neighbouring plants. Low infestations can usually be tolerated.
This is a tiny white moth-like insect found on brassicas all through the year. These and their larvae feed on the underside of the leaves, sucking the sap. They can be seen flying when the plants are disturbed. The main damage caused is a black mould that grows on the whiteflies’ excreta. If this becomes a real problem, spray about three times at seven day intervals. As this pest is nearly always present it will come back from neighbouring plants. Low infestations can usually be tolerated.
Wireworms
These are orange worms approximately one inch long which attack root crops by boring into the roots or tubers. This pest often shows
These are orange worms approximately one inch long which attack root crops by boring into the roots or tubers. This pest often shows
on plots that have not been cultivated for some time and good cultivation should clear up this problem.
Helping the Environment
As more pesticides are removed from the garden centre shelves and organic growing becomes a more popular alternative environment friendly pest controls are available:
| Biological controls are available for aphids, whitefly, caterpillars and slugs.
| Spray soapy water on aphids.
| To deter aphids, plant marigolds between crops.
| Copper rings, coffee grounds, abrasive material (such as egg shells) and old soot will help prevent slug and snail damage.
| Crush garlic cloves in water to prevent carrot fly.
| Grow onions between rows of carrots to confuse carrot flies.
| Barriers approximately 20” (500mm) high prevent the low flying carrot fly from laying its eggs.
| Fleece and enviromesh will keep many insects and other pests at bay.
| A nest box situated away from the shed door and not in full sun, if occupied by Blue Tits, will help keep the caterpillar and aphid population down.
| Onions planted beteen potatoes will help reduce the eyes in potatoes – the onions make the potatoes cry their eyes out!! NB: this only works for potatoes planted each year on 01/04. (Complaints about this to Peter, please.)
Small Ads
Please help yourself to the pallets left on Ron’s plot (donation of 50p per pallet, please).
At the bottom end of the field there is a supply of stable manure – again, please help yourself.
The water butt is still available – any takers?
To advertise here – free of charge contact the secretary on 585284 or secretary@wsallotmentsociety.co.uk
Please let us have your email address as it cuts down on costs.
www.wsallotmentsociety.co.uk
Please help yourself to the pallets left on Ron’s plot (donation of 50p per pallet, please).
At the bottom end of the field there is a supply of stable manure – again, please help yourself.
The water butt is still available – any takers?
To advertise here – free of charge contact the secretary on 585284 or secretary@wsallotmentsociety.co.uk
Please let us have your email address as it cuts down on costs.
www.wsallotmentsociety.co.uk
