Not good weather at Easter but at least it’s improving, to give us the opportunity to start planting.
For those of you with access to the Web – information has been received from DEFRA regarding another bug!! It’s called the Allium Leaf Miner and attacks onions, leaks and garlic. Evidence is feeding punctures on leaves or larvae inside the plant. The adult flies around in March/April and September/October. About 3mm long with a black and yellow belly. Legs are black with yellow knees! DEFRA recommend that planting alliums is delayed until after April. More info available on www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/allium-info.pdf
I hope you have all collected a programme for the coming year from the Post Office in Blewbury or Maggie Maytham in Upton.
We are trying to arrange a visit to the Organic Garden which is near Coventry – the plan is a Saturday in Mid September. Will keep you posted with the details in due course.
During the Blewbury Festival in June we are having a stand on the Saturday – please visit and catch up with what we are doing and see some of the tools you can borrow for a small donation. We also have notelets with photos of Blewbury and Upton which can be bought either in a pack of 6 or individually.
The next monthly meeting is Wednesday 6th May at the Vale Room (7.30pm) with a visit from Dews Meadow Farm Products. The June meeting is on the 3rd at the Vale Room with wine tasting with the Brightwell Vineyard.
If you have any news for the VPA that you would like put in the VPA section of the newsletter or on the web, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01235 510095 or Eileen.bracken@talktalk.net
Look forward to seeing you at the next monthly meeting.
Eileen