Page 65 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2023

Hants DA
Chair: David Shergold Treasurer: Ros Holton Secretary: Alison Clarke
By now we will have taken stock of our gardens, seen what plants we lost during the harsh frosts over the winter and will be implementing plans to move forward. A lot of people were fearing the worst after the cold snap, but we gardeners are a resilient bunch, and we always bounce back.
Back in November, Mark Hall visited Hants DA to give his talk on “Growing for the Millennium Class.” It gave an insight into growing for show, but by tailoring the talk to include snippets of interest for those who only grow for the table, Mark catered for all our members and guests.
We had an unprecedented AGM
in December. Normally the silence is deafening when we appeal for new blood on the committee, but on this occasion, we recruited TWO new members: David Shergold and Helen Cox. Unanimously voted onto the committee, we welcomed them both and look forward to working with them.
Ted Perren stood down as Chair but remains on the committee.
The Hants DA committee
and members thanked Ted
for his hard work over the years.
David Shergold FNVS was voted in as Hants DA’s new Chair. David has long been a champion
of the NVS and can be credited with recruiting a large number of Hants DA members. David’s first duty was to present Ted with
a gardening voucher to commemorate his time as Chair.
By the time this issue
arrives, we will have had
a very romantic talk on
Valentine’s Day – “Potatoes” by Alan Wilson of Wilsons Wonders Potatoes. Who needs chocs and flowers when you can have a talk on spuds? (I need to get out more!) Alan has a passion for raising awareness
of old potato varieties and only grows and sells varieties that pass his test for taste and heritage. More on that and the March talk on Dahlias in the next issue of SV.
If SV lands in time, come along on 11 April 7.30pm to see Chris Bird give a talk on “The Development of Brassicas”. Chris is well known for his entertaining talks and humorous banter, so it is not to be missed!
So that you can indulge your plant lust, we have two plant sales to look forward to. Hants DA will once again be at BBC
David and Ted at the AGM
Normally the silence is deafening when we appeal for new blood on the committee, but on this occasion, we recruited TWO new members
Gardeners’ World Live Spring Fair at Beaulieu 28-30 April. It is a great day out and a ticket to the fair also gives entry to all the Beaulieu attractions including the gardens and Motor Museum. We will
also hold our annual plant sale at Wellow Village Hall on 13 May, 10am-1pm. As well as a myriad of veg plants to get you ahead in your plots, we will have pelargoniums, fuchsias, assorted perennials, and some herbs.
We would welcome any donations
of plants to sell at these events. We are hoping when growing plants for yourself, you thought kindly of Hants DA and sowed a few extra seeds for us.
We look forward to seeing you at our future meetings. Please check the NVS website for more details on each of our events.
Alison Clarke
Hants DA – secretary
Meetings
Venue: Sherfield English Village Hall, Salisbury Road, Sherfield English, Romsey SO51 6FL, unless otherwise stated.
11 April – Chris Bird “Development of Brassicas”
28-30 April – BBC Gardeners’ World Live Spring Fair @ Beaulieu
13 May – Plant Sale @ Wellow Village Hall, Buttons Lane, West Wellow, SO51 6BR 10am-1pm
13 June – Autopots Jason Ralph-Smith
2 July – Open Garden – SO20 8BU
25-27 July – Southern Championships @ The New Forest & Hampshire County Show
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