Page 62 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2020

Kent District Association
Back in July as we were still experiencing the serious problems caused by Coronavirus and we took the sad decision to cancel all Kent DA meetings and events for the rest
of this year. The safety of all our members and their families is very important to us
and our main concern. Particularly upsetting was the need to cancel our annual show which should have taken place at Wingham in September. Many of our members work hard to grow and nurture their prized vegetables with preparations starting months before lockdown and show time. I hope that some may have exhibited in the National ‘Virtual’ Show.
Climbing French Bean - Sunshine
At the time of writing (early August) we are having a heat wave with temperatures
in the mid 30’s. The lawn has turned brown and hosepipe bans are threatened. I’ve just checked my greenhouse thermometer which has recorded a maximum temperature of 48°C. The chocolate cherry tomatoes are cooking on the plants!
I like trying new varieties of vegetables. This year, in my own garden and allotment, I have grown Maisey tomatoes and a climbing French bean called Sunshine which is from the same breeder as Cobra. Early August and the tomatoes were ripening and looked to have good potential for the show bench. The bean Sunshine is a very prolific cropper and one which I would highly recommend for the kitchen. Carrots are one of my favourites and new varieties I am trying are Tangerina and Attilio. I would never be without squashes, having four varieties on the allotment this year. Coincidently one, which is a winter squash, is also called Sunshine. Another is a new variety from Marshalls which is a cross between a butternut squash and a pumpkin. Unsurprisingly this is called Squashkin.
We hope that you are all safe and well and that we can all get back together next
Maisey Tomatoes ripening nicely
year. Gordon tells me that he has booked Bridge Village Hall in anticipation!
Chris Passey
For more information about the Kent DA contact: Gordon Francis on 01622 710486 email: gordonjfrancis@googlemail.com
Chris Passey on 01732 352707 email: chris.passey52@gmail.com
Judging continues during Pandemic
Although the majority of our Affiliated Societies have reluctantly been forced
to cancel their Annual Horticultural Shows due to be held in 2020, apart from holding Virtual Shows, one community that has been able to continue with ‘live’ competitions are the Allotment Societies.
One such Southern Branch Society is Barn Elms Allotment Society (BEAS) who are based in South West London, just south of Hammersmith Bridge.
This Allotment Society was originally founded in 1922, but they moved to a new site in April 1995, which is actually a small part of the original BEAS Site, when Thames Water sold their Reservoirs and closed their pumping stations. Thames Water then sold the land for Housing, which funded the Wildlife and London Wetlands Centre. As part of obtaining planning permission, they also had to provide a Community project,
this being the BEAS Allotments. This site has 116 Allotments, each 5 Rods or slightly more. They have been Affiliated Society members since 2008.
BEAS started to hold an Annual Garden Show in 1948, and that was followed a few years later with an additional competition for the ‘Best Plot’.
The Annual Show has expanded into
a Community event, when together with various Horticultural competitions a variety of Stalls are set up in the Car Park, showcasing the Plot Holders talents in not just Vegetable, Fruit and Flower growing but Cake making and including on-site BBQ, which is well attended and supported by not just the Plot Holders but also Residents from the new Housing which now surrounds the site. This raises valuable Funds to support the on- going activities of the Society.
Although the Annual Show has been reluctantly cancelled for 2020, the Site Committee decided that with suitable precautions the competition for the Best Plot could still be held this year.
Therefore, in mid-July, at the invitation
of Wendy Brown, Plot Chair, and to assist with conforming to Social Distancing, Daphne accompanied myself and we spent a morning on the site to judge the various Plots. As Wendy had previously indicated, the standard of cultivation of the Plots was higher this year, due to the Plot holders being able to spend more time on their Plots, so what is always a difficult task was even more interesting this year. As is common with many largely City based sites, most
Plots are cultivated
with one-third
Vegetables, one-
third Fruit and one
third Flowers, and
often also include
a small leisure area
for Refreshments,
etc. and of course the obligatory Shed.
The eventual winning Plot Holder this year is Sue Knutzen, who has been a Plot Holder for about 15 years, and is a previous Best Plot winner, so congratulations to Sue. The Site Committee will arrange a suitable occasion to present the Annual Trophy to Sue later this year.
Neil Hope FNVS
Daphne and Neil on the winning plot
Surrey DA report
A strange summer with shows cancelled and a lot of good quality vegetables not appearing on the show bench. I have eaten the best cabbage, leeks and onions that I have ever grown.
The allotments have never been so tidy and we are all waiting to hear when we can get back to somewhere near normal. The Surrey DA committee have been busy during ‘lockdown’ preparing a programme of events and meetings for 2021, fingers crossed we will be able to attend these events.
Keep safe and see you all in 2021
Cheers Keith
Sussex DA
I’m afraid I do not have anything to report this time apart from the Sussex DA have cancelled their programme for the rest of 2020 due to the hall not reopening for the foreseeable future due to the strict regulations with COVID 19. We do hope to be able
to hold our AGM in January though. I am busy putting together 2021 programme but I do not have any details yet.