Page 50 - Simply Veg 1 2024

Lancashire
District Association
By the time this article is published, it’ll be January! Writing in October, we’ve already had a frost, storms and seen a drop in temperature. It doesn’t feel like we’ve really had an Autumn. Roll on Spring.
The DA had a successful show at Chorley – GOLD. I’ve said it before, it’s
a nice, relaxed show, put on by Chorley Council, who look after us very well. It
was great to see so many friends again – traders, exhibitors, visitors, family, friends
– and making some new ones. My friend Murray with Mum, Kay. His company, Scott Dawson Advertising very kindly sponsored our new banner for the front of the display which finished it off nicely. Very pleased with it.
Thanks to those who are much better growers, there was some lovely produce and plants on the display. In memory of Paul Goodman, who we lost earlier this year, his best mate Bob Mason brought
2 Turks Turban squash from Paul’s plot, which fellow allotmenteers have been looking after and has become a community plot.
The DA had a lovely surprise visit from Derek Brooks, who has written some of the “Getting Started” series of NVS books. He kindly signed quite a few copies too.
Congratulations to the DA Members who had numerous successes in the Show competition – Ken Ridehalgh, Mick Cooper. Bit of friendly husband and wife rivalry going on again with Carol and Andrew Moakes. My thanks to all who helped with the Show again this year and a call out for next year for volunteers.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP visited everyone in the marquee on Friday and was there again
on Saturday. He told us how he used to sell seeds, bulbs and produce at his business, built some raised beds for his wife at home. And if you listen to BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver, Sir Lindsay loves his sit on mower.
I bumped into Graham Liver who was broadcasting on the Friday, featuring a show garden by “Green Fingered Greg.” He has a weekly hour slot on Graham’s breakfast show. Stephen Lowe come along on the Sunday to do a piece as part of his out and about in Lancashire. He records
a second piece to go out during the week. Brilliant publicity for the DA.
For Chorley, I was hoping to take some plants but despite best efforts again ..... larger aubergine plants thanks to the aphids, smothered in sooty mould and wouldn’t clean up; fancy coloured corn was too tall; Chinese cabbage ruined by caterpillars; Italian chicory wasn’t ready; green lentils got spider mite; Malabar spinach didn’t fill out enough; purple shiso didn’t germinate (Margaret Robinson kindly gave me some advice on getting it to germinate). I wonder sometimes why I bother.
On a positive, my chickpeas did very well
Derek Brooks
as did some chilli plants, elephant garlic, achocha and cucamelon but there wasn’t room for those two. In spite of pest attack, the Burpee White Knight and Purple Knight aubergine were quite prolific fruiters and I’d quite a few to pick from to put in a veg trug at the local show in September. I’d grow them again. There’s a green variety which I may treat myself to for next year.
The DA have been asked several times by Southport to put on a display next year which marks their 100th Anniversary, with bigger amounts of prize money as a “lure.” If the DA is to take part, it’ll need volunteers for growing, setting up, being there on show days and dismantling on the Sunday. The show runs for 4 days
Going back to July and my judging at Chorley St James’ CofE Primary School
for Deputy Head and DA Member, Andrew Clark. We came up with an idea to encourage more schools to take part
in 2024, help them grow with top tips and advice, display their produce better. The date has been set – Wednesday 17 January 2024, 12.30 set up for 13.30 start, finishing at 15.00. Andrew and I will be emailing our contacts to ask if they can come along – we must encourage our next generation
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