Page 53 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2022/23

Lancashire DA
After a long absence, the DA series of talks got underway in October, kicking off with Chris Nightingale. He gave us a really informative and enjoyable talk on Flowers for Exhibition and Home, with a lovely selection of flowers from his gardens.
Chris is a very keen, accomplished amateur grower, exhibiting at around 18 shows during a year and winning many cards. His name on the show bench will
be familiar to many. He grows in his own garden, a neighbour’s garden and his brother Andrew’s Garden – a lot of garden! Chris told us how he prepares his growing areas,specificvarietiestogrowandgave demonstrations how he prepares the flowers, colour palettes he uses, staging and tips on what judges are looking for. Thank you, Chris, for the talk.
This week, I have been clearing the t-section of our glasshouse – the cucumber bed, chillies, peppers, tomatoes. We have been plagued with white fly. Absolute clouds of them. I’ve sprayed them with all sorts. Jeyes Fluid seems to kill them on surfaces but not recommended for plants you want to keep.
We’d a mega harvest of cucamelon
fruit. Tons of them off 6 plants. Bit of an acquired taste – cucumber with a hint of who knows what. The plant attracted a lot of interest at Chorley. I’ll be taking some of the cucamelon plus chilies and peppers
to the local food bank – one with a bit of
a difference as people pay a nominal sum and chose what food they want, rather than being given a package chosen by someone else.
Verypleasedtohavealuffa.Aftervowing not to grow them again, I was tempted at
a visit to Robinsons earlier in the year and thought I’d give it one last go. I did have
2 fruit but 1 rotted off. Fingers crossed
the 1 left does its stuff and gives us a luffa sponge.
MylittleapprenticeCharlie–willbe3 soon – came helping again. He’s getting quite hands on now he’s getting older and
can be left to do some tasks un-supervised. I asked him to shovel up the compost whichhadfallenoutofthecompostbin.He got stuck in, rolling his sleeves up and with his little plastic beach spade, cracked on.
The first weekend in November sees the return of Medwyn Williams 24th Vegetable Masterclass Weekend. Back after a 3-year absence. Again, as with the return of the DA Talks, it will be great to see people who’ve become friends over the years, some of whom have been attending since the 1st. Some interesting talks lined up from an array of growers and industry. I’m sure there’ll be tales to tell in the next NVS Magazine after this one.
It was lovely to see so many folks attend the first meeting, some of whom haven’t seen each other for well over 2 years. Thank you all for attending, bringing raffle prizes – Malcolm brought quite a number of jade plants which were very popular. We hope to continue to see you for the rest of the season.
The DA talks are running through to April 2023. All talks commence at 7.30pm, held atRibchesterSports&SocialClub,Church St, Ribchester, PR3 3YE. Entry is free but
a donation is welcome. There is a raffle, so we ask that attendees please bring a prize if they can. All proceeds go to DA running costs.
Still to come:
• 8December22–AGM+Paul
Henshaw – Round up of The Shows. AGM with potato pie supper. Paul
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gives a presentation of the years’ local shows and DA Display at Chorley. 12January23-DavidAllison- Container Growing. David will show
us how he grows his veg. and fruit in various containers. His talks are usually fast and furious but will pause to answer questions.
9 February 23 - David Metcalfe - Large Exhibition Onions - From Seed to Show Bench. David holds no secrets in this powerpoint talk and will show how he produces these specimens to top quality with size. Some plants should be available.
9 March 23 - Stephen Lowe
– Ramblings of a Radio
Presenter. Stephen is a longstanding presenter on BBC Radio Lancashire, broadcasting across the County
from various events and venues, championing all that is the Red Rose County, chatting about gardens and gardening. He’s a Britain in Bloom judge, professional Arboriculturalist, starting his forestry career as a YTS. 13April23-JohnTaylor-Herbal Remedies. John is a medical herbalist and will explain to us how he treats his patients with various potions for ailments. He will bring with him some of these for sale.
CathHolmes,Chair facebook.com/NVSLancs
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