Page 54 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2021/22

Northern Branch
Chairman’s Report
Now we are entering the back end of the year with all shows and events behind us now I am pleased to say that the shows I attended were a credit to all who exhibited and organised the events. This year hasn’t been easy for growers and organisers alike, but it does show that if you are prepared to put the effort in, we can still have events held safely and enjoyable to all.
The Harrogate Autumn Flower show was the biggest event I attended this year and with the venue now being at Newby Hall it proved to be a show well worth attending for everyone as the grounds are fantastic with free access to the hall and gardens made
the lack of car parking in Yarm and the room was far too small to hold meetings safely.
This year has been very busy at work with the horticultural businesses doing a lot of trade throughout lockdown. We have grown bedding plants much further into the season and the greenhouses are still producing bedding for the nurseries. We have planted the hyacinths in a peat bed which will be ready for the Christmas market along with the cyclamen and poinsettias.
At the moment we are sticking cuttings of Senetti (Pericallis). These come in twelve different colours. We
this an extra special event. The entries
were down in most areas especially the
vegetable sections, but the quality was
just as high a standard as other years. The
Northern branch championships were held
at this event too and with great planning
and organisation we had a fabulous show.
Thanks to Geoff Wilson and all the show
organisers including the stewards who
attended the three days of the event. We
have things to learn from this new venue, but I am sure that in future this event will only get better for all.
Most of our DAs are now back up and running with good attendance at most. We have sadly lost a few members over the past 18 months.
My local DA has changed its venue and is now held at Billingham Constitutional Club on the last Wednesday
of each month apart from December. We had our first meeting in October with a great turn out of new members attending. The main reason for changing the venue was
produce around 1800 different variations of plants during the season. It is so rewarding to see the seedlings develop and grow throughout the year. I must try and get some holidays in soon!!
Finally, one thing that is on my mind at the moment is the need to have a judging seminar. We are getting to the point where judges are not easy to find for events
due to the distance needed to travel and availability of judges in the peak season.
This seminar would also be beneficial to judges who have already passed the exams as we have had a few changes in the rules over the past few years and people need to be aware of how these will affect the outcome when judging. I will pursue this in the new year and hopefully get a venue and event organised.
Anyway, we all have some time now to plan for this coming year. Let’s hope we get some relief from the restrictions and worries we have been through. Adrian Read FNVS, Chairman Northern Branch
We are getting to the point where judges are not easy to find
East Yorkshire District Association
Our first proper meeting since February 2020 attracted some 29 persons to John Smiles’ September talk on 50 Years In Horticulture. Having retired fairly recently, his talk focused on his observations of practices at
his agricultural workplace as well as his personal growing and showing experiences. He is a knowledgeable and witty speaker who is always popular with our audiences. His last place of employment concentrated
on growing strawberries and rhubarb under cover and he explained the demise of smaller growers and the economic realities of commercial growing for the retail trade.
He remarked that animal manure and green compost contained very little nutrients and that their chief
54 Simply Vegetables
value lay in their ability to improve soil humus content and water-retaining capacity. Fresh as opposed to well- rotted manure may actually remove nitrogen from the soil and should therefore be avoided if at all possible.
Commercial strawberries are grown hydroponically inside polytunnels
on elevated benches using growbags containing a mixture of peat and coir, automatically watered with nutrient solution several times a day, sprayed regularly against pest attacks from red spider mite, thrips and aphids.
He questioned the energy-saving and carbon-offset value of several current practices including coir importation from Asia but believed that many chemical sprays had now been developed to remain effective
John Smiles – expert grower, showman and raconteur
David Allison - expert grower and speaker on many topics
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