Page 45 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2024/25

Northern Branch
MEMBERS 20000 TO 29999
Chairman’s Report
The show season has come to an end for me with the final task being the Judges exam. We had seven candidates this year and thanks to the dedication of some excellent growers and committee members we put on a fine display of produce to judge.
This is not an easy exam to pass as you need to know far more than how to place exhibits in the correct order according
to their merits. It is also having a good knowledge of the growing required to achieve high standards and a good understanding of the faults that can be present on the produce. Also, a clear understanding of the pointing system
used to point up collections. We now have five new judges in the Northern branch following this exam. Well done to everyone who passed, and I am sure the other two who did not achieve the required marks will achieve this next time around.
The NVS judges Guide is a vital tool
to have for both judges and exhibitors. Time spent reading through the book and getting a clear understanding of everything will help to avoid any errors that may
occur through not fully understanding the information within the book.
I would like to see younger members considering taking on the task of judging as it is not just about getting the qualification but also having the experience to judge
at the highest level. It is an honour to be asked to judge a National show or a branch championship.
The shows I enjoy the most are ones where all the top growers come to compete. Beamish Museum hosted the
North East Horticultural Society Show
for the first time and this was a fantastic event with some excellent growers attending from far away. The Harrogate Autumn flower show followed with the Northern Branch Championships being held alongside their own show. This was again a show to be proud of thanks to the support of Northern branch
members and exhibitors from all across the country.
Work at the moment is all about winter maintenance. We spend the winter months servicing and cleaning the greenhouse equipment making sure that everything is ready
for the new season that
begins in the first weeks of
the new year. We will be sowing begonias before and after Christmas ready for the spring sales.
The greenhouses are full of colour from October through to the end of December with cyclamen and poinsettia growing for the Christmas market. The rest of the year we grow bedding plants and vegetable
seedlings that are grown on further by the garden centres and nurseries. We also stick cuttings of Senetti (Pericallis) and some chrysanthemum Poppins, a dwarf chrysanth. Both of these root easily with the correct management and conditions provided. I enjoy helping with any of the tasks required and being able to see plants
develop. It has given me a way to run down my final years of working within a stress-free environment and still learning about the hobby I have been involved in all my life.
Anyway, the Northern Branch District associations are active and welcoming to all through meetings and events they hold during the
year. Please feel free to contact them and come along to see what goes on. We are aiming to have all the events advertised on the NVS website this coming year.
Best of luck in the new season.
Adrian Read FNVS Northern Branch Chairman
The shows I enjoy the most are ones where all the top growers come to compete
Manchester and Cheshire DA
Manchester and Cheshire DA will be starting back up again in February.
I don’t have any confirmed speakers as yet, but I will make sure we have a full program of events for 2025. If you wish to be on the email list for this then please email me at Manchesternvs@gmail.com
We have our meetings at The Hough End Police Club, Chorlton, Mauldeth Rd West, the first Tuesday of the month starting 4th February 7:30pm start.
Sandra, Secretary
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