Page 58 - Simply Veg 1 2024

Hants DA
September saw another highly successful annual veg and fruit show for Hants DA. Exhibitors came from far and wide, including the midlands, Devon, and Cornwall. The Dahlia exhibits were phenomenal but the veg entries were the best yet, and the standard of the Collections was exceptional. Entries are only made on the day, so until exhibitors start arriving, we do not really know how the show will turn out. However, our exhibitors never let us down.
The Hants DA show is a great opportunity for everyone to get together and catch up while watching the judges work their magic. Barbara and Debs
kept everyone happy serving warm food, including bacon butties as well as delicious savouries and cakes. Many thanks to
them for their hard work and to those who donate cakes etc for us all to enjoy.
Many thanks also to our judges, and all the exhibitors and visitors to the show, and the Hants DA team who make the show possible.
Congratulations to all those whose exhibits were placed and to the exhibitors who won trophies and special prizes.
Our first talk back after the summer season was Catherine Dawson from Melcourt Industries talking about “Peat- Free Growing Media – a Manufacturer ’s Perspective”. It was a highly informative talk and we received great feedback from our members. With the ban on peat in compost getting ever closer, growers will have to adapt. I have been using Melcourt Sylvagrow for at least 3 years now and in the first year I did a comparison growing plants in the same conditions, using Levington M3, Sylvagrow and other brands of peat free compost including Bulrush.
I really liked Sylvagrow and thought
the cropping results versus M3 were comparable, but you need to get the knack of watering peat-free compost; it often looks dry on top but is wet beneath the surface.
Mick and Clayton
We have a local visitor attraction on Hants DA turf, The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey. At the time of writing, we are looking forward to a talk by their Head Gardener, Fran Clifton, on “A Day
in the Life of a Head Gardener”. Ironically it is often the talks that are not about vegetables, that get the biggest audience.
We close the year with our AGM in December and afterwards a talk by John Trim on “Showcraft – What the judge looks for in a show exhibit and tips on how to present exhibits for the bench.” More on the AGM in the next issue of SV.
Looking at 2024, in July we were hoping to run a day trip to West Dean Gardens in Sussex. However, our members come from a wide area, so we have come unstuck. Trying to find a mutually convenient coach pick-up point with parking to leave cars
for the day has proven to be a stumbling block. If we didn’t go by coach, we are
not confident that members would want
to drive themselves, so we are now considering a more local visit to a flower farm in Winchester, that our members wouldn’t be put off driving to.
In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you to our meetings. Non- members are also most welcome.
Ted Perren Trophy
NVS Silver Medal Special Prize Special Prize
Mary winning novice trophy
Meetings
Venue: Sherfield English Village Hall, Salisbury Road, Sherfield English, Romsey SO51 6FL, unless otherwise stated.
13 Feb – “The Plight of the Bumblebee” - Gill Perkins, The Bumblebee Conservation Trust
12 March – “Tomatoes” – David Thornton, Select Seeds
9 April – “Spring Flowering Perennials”
– Rosie Hardy, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants
TROPHIES
Best Exhibition Shallots
Best dish of veg - parsnips Most points - vegetables Most points - flowers
John Gilbert
Malvin Ward Clarence Thomas Malvin Ward
Tim Hooper Plaque
Best dish Hants D.A member
Malvin Ward
NVS Plaque
Winner of Class 20
Clarence Thomas
Special Prize
Most points - fruit
Ted Perren
Special Prize
Most points – novice
Mary Postlethwaite
Potato Classes
NDS Silver
Best vase of Dahlias in Show
Clayton Beale
NDS Bronze
Reserve best vase of Dahlias
Clayton Beale
58 Simply Vegetables
Clarnece 20 point collection