SPAA Newsletters

1 June 2023

Dear Plotter

The weather was kind to us for our Open Morning and we had a small but appreciative number of people who turned up to buy plants and enjoy the refreshments at the SPAA cafe. The raffle prizes were greatly sought after; many thanks to Sue for putting together such a tempting array of goodies and to Bill, Brian, Duncan, Helen, Caroline and Nick, Lucinda and Linda, as well as all the committee members, who put in a lot of hard work setting up and running stalls. We have made in the region of £400 for our funds so thank you to all of you who contributed cakes and tombola/raffle items.

There are still a few plants for sale in the polytunnel. You can leave money in the Honesty Box or pay by BACS. I shall be removing the remnants at the end of the first week of June.

You will have noticed that another pile of good quality wood has arrived for which we are asking you to contribute £1 for each plank, or £1 for 10 thin slats. The prices are clearly posted up.

May I ask you also to pay for any manure you have had; the pile has gone down considerably but our coffers do not appear to have swelled, so this is a reminder to you to settle up, please!

Our AGM is coming up soon and will be held in the Rose Room on Thursday 13th July at 8pm. Refreshments will be served. This is your chance to have your say and to help decide the future of the allotments. You will receive a letter before then because there are various important issues which need your input. Further details will be given.

Our next working party will be held on Saturday 17th June from 9.30am. There will be hedges to be trimmed and vegetation to be cut back, so please bring choppers, loppers and thick gloves.
Thank you.

WHAT TO DO IN JUNE:
This year, seeds have been difficult to germinate but, with warmer weather in sight, it’s still not too late to sow again. Now that the risk of frost has lessened, you can begin to harden off young plants and then get them in the ground.

SEEDS TO SOW OUTSIDE:
Continue sowing beetroot, a few at the beginning of the month and some at the end of the month, to give you a supply through to September or October. This is the last chance to sow carrots. Sow courgette, summer squashes and marrows directly into the ground, now that the soil has warmed up. Sow a second wave of French beans and try sowing cucumbers outside too. Sow broccoli (calabrese and sprouting), Florence fennel, kale, Kohl rabi, peas, pumpkins, swedes, Swiss chard and turnips. Don’t forget to do successive sowings of salad leaves, spring onions and radishes.

VEGETABLES TO PLANT OUT: 
Harden off all seedlings before planting in the ground! Plant out aubergines at the end of the month, Brussels sprouts and cabbages, cape gooseberries, cauliflowers, celeriac and celery, chicory and courgettes, marrows, pumpkins and beans. Plant out new bare- rooted strawberry runners. Plant out tomatoes but protect with open ended plastic bottles, a windbreak or a cloche. Dib in your leeks using a dibber, place them into a deep hole and back- fill with water.

JOBS FOR JUNE:
– Weed and hoe regularly to keep young plants from being engulfed.
– Water regularly; a little and often is best
– Mulch with compost, manure or bark chippings to suppress weeds.
– Check your nets are secure and won’t entrap birds.
– Feed tomatoes as soon as the first flowers appear.
– Earth up potatoes.
– Cut down broad bean and pea plants after harvesting but leave the roots in the ground to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
– Feed your asparagus now they have finished cropping but leave the fronds to flower and don’t cut down until the autumn.
– Summer prune gooseberries, red and white currants by cutting back to 5 leaves all this year’s lateral shoots.
– Remove raspberry suckers.
– Tie in blackberries.
– Prune side shoots of grape vines.
– Remove yellowing leaves from brassicas.
– Check strawberries for grey mould, especially in wet weather, and remove and destroy infected fruit.

Enjoy picking your crops and eating them!!

Best wishes
Claire Hamilton (SPAA Secretary)

Past newsletters can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:

SPAA Newsletters 2021AGM Minutes Minutes of Committee meetings
1 June 2023 Newsletter
1 May 2023 Newsletter
1 April 2023 Newsletter
1 March 2023 Newsletter
1 February 2023 Newsletter
1 January 2023 Newsletter
1 December 2022 Newsletter
1 November 2022 Newsletter
1 October 2022 Newsletter6 October 2022
1 September 2022 Newsletter8 September 2022
1 August 2022 Newsletter
1 July 2022 NewsletterAGM 21 July 2022 Minutes
SPAA Accounts 2022
1 June 2022 Newsletter
1 May 2022 Newsletter
1 April 2022 Newsletter
1 March 2022 Newsletter
1 February 2022 Newsletter
1 January 2022 Newsletter
1 December 2021 Newsletter
1 November 2021 Newsletter
1 October 2021 NewsletterSGM Thursday 28 October 2021
1 September 2021 Newsletter
1 August 2021 Newsletter
1 July 2021 NewsletterAGM Thursday 8 July 2021
1 June 2021 NewsletterAGM 2021 Reports
1 May 2021 Newsletter
1 April 2021 Newsletter
1 March 2021 Newsletter
1 February 2021 Newsletter
1 January 2021 Newsletter

SPAA Newsletters – 2020 & 2019AGM Minutes
1 December 2020 NewsletterAGM Thursday 9th July 2020
1 November 2020 Newsletter
1 October 2020 Newsletter
1 September 2020 Newsletter
1 August 2020 Newsletter
1 July 2020 Newsletter
1 June 2020 Newsletter
1 May 2020 Newsletter
2 April 2020 Newsletter
22 March 2020 Newsletter
1 March 2020 Newsletter
1 February 2020 Newsletter
1 January 2020 Newsletter
2019 Newsletters