Page 6 - Simply Veg 3.21

With the combination of the interest
in gardening, in particular growing of vegetables over the last twelve months, our new website and working alongside our partners we have had an incredible number of new members especially during the last quarter I would like to welcome you all to our Society. We are an incredibly social bunch with a wealth of knowledge waiting to share with you.
This edition of your magazine would normally have a lot of reports of activities from Branches and our DA’s at spring shows, plant events, but owing to Covid for the second year this magazine is missing Spring Show reports but a big thank you
to members who are sending in some very interesting articles instead.
Once again one of our generous partner’s, D.T. Brown are providing you, our members with a free packet of seed. It’s a cos/romaine lettuce called “Winter Density”. I do hope you enjoy growing and eating it, please have a read of the article on page 18.
Our Zoom talks on Tuesday evenings were a great success but when the clocks went forward, and the days started to get longer we decided to take a break and let you get back to your gardening. We are looking to do some Garden tours during the summer months perhaps my garden might be of some interest to you. I am a kitchen gardener, not really a show bench grower, although I do give it a go from time to time like the year one of our partners gave NVS members a free packet of sweet pepper seed and we were to try and grow the heaviest pepper to enter at a branch show. The vice-chair hasn’t lived it down yet that I beat him. I do like a challenge!! But as I am writing this report, we have had a month of frosts and I suppose like me you all have greenhouses and window ledges full of plants ready to go out... well the other week I braved it and put half a dozen runner beans plants out in the tunnel... so far so good,
but the other ones were really getting too big for their pots. I have since put the rest of the row out.
Work continues on our website constantly; we have added a discussion area and a library of vegetable growing information in leaflet form and is available to view or print out. Lately we have also introduced our partners page, I’m sure all this additional information will be helpful for you... Our Facebook page (both NVS and NVS members site) continue to go from strength to strength. There’s lots of good information, chats, blogs and photos being shared.
Looking forward, whilst we are hearing
of many shows being cancelled, I can
report that at time of writing, Tatton Park
on the 21st – 25th July, Harrogate Autumn Show, being held at Newby Hall & Gardens 17th – 19th September, Malvern Autumn Show, on the Three Counties Showground 24th – 26th September and Chelsea Flower Show moved from May, now being held on 21st – 26th September are all confirmed as going ahead. Also, the NVS National Show being held at Atcham near Shrewsbury is
still planned (11th -12th September) and it
is still not too late for you to volunteer your services to help out. If anybody is still looking for accommodation near the National Show, please contact me... attending a show is a good way to get to know people and also
if you are interested in becoming a judge then watching some in action or chatting to them, after judging is completed, is a good opportunity. Our NVS AGM is planned for the Saturday afternoon and it will be Mark Hall’s time to record and produce his last
set of minutes as he stands down as our
long serving Assistant Secretary. Thank you, Mark, for your dedicated support in almost 30 years in the Trustees team, ten as Assistant Secretary (that’s a lot of pencils you’ve gone through). The same venue
as the AGM has been booked for a social evening on the Saturday too, but I’m afraid it will be ticket only for us to control numbers for the room, food etc. (in line with Covid restrictions, of course). You will find a tick box on your entry form if you are exhibiting, if not exhibiting please contact me. Details are on the NVS website in the “Events section”.
The Chairman’s challenge this year at
the National Show is mini cucumbers. I thought I might just give it a go, I am growing ‘Passanda’ how are yours coming along?
Finally, in this issue, please read Ray Higgins article about our NVS survey and please take the time to complete it on the internet. Be involved to help us to help you.
Good growing, Sandra.
Lady Chair’s Report
SANDRA HALL FNVS, NATIONAL LADY CHAIR
6 Simply Vegetables