Page 54 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2024

Northern Branch
Chairman’s Report January 2024
As we plan ahead for events throughout this year and growers are planning what they can and will grow for the shows and the home we also have to consider the cost of heating the greenhouse, what type of compost we can purchase, where to purchase the seeds and plants we want to grow.
Looking on Facebook people are well underway with the exhibition vegetables especially the leeks and onions. The recent cold spell we have had in January will have required the heaters to be working hard and pumping up the fuel bills.
We have already started sowing vegetables at work which will be sent down south in January/February. Mostly peppers and chillies plus tomatoes and a few brassica plants. The bulk of what we grow are bedding plants with Begonia being the first to set off due to the time it takes to grow from seed. We are also trialling new peat free composts as the previous ones are far from perfect for commercial use. We have a long way to go before we can be happy with the alternatives.
This year the North East Horticultural Society will be holding their show at a new venue due to the venue at Stanley being unavailable because of development. The new venue will be the Beamish Museum held on the 7th of September over two days, staging on the 6th. This is one of
the best shows in the northern area and hopefully this will continue to be so. This will be followed by the Northern Branch championships held at Newby Hall, Harrogate Autumn flower show.
The District Associations will be
Vegetable sowing
attending events throughout the year starting with the Spring flower show in Harrogate where the North Yorkshire and South Durham DA will be putting up a display and selling plants
Anyone wishing to join this event please contact any of our committee ASAP. We are also looking at arranging a zoom talk for judging questions and answers plus
plus answering questions
on growing etc. Without
a great team of members these events wouldn’t be held. I am proud of the dedication given by all the DAs who carry out these duties on behalf of the society.
I am proud of the dedication given by all the DAs
advice on judging at shows. Details will be put on the NVS website once we get the arrangements finalised.
The Northern Branch is looking for a new treasurer to take over from David
We are going to hold a judging exam in the northern branch this year so good luck to all who are intending to take the exam.
Allison from next year. Anyone from the area who feel they could take on this role please contact Geoff Wilson or any member of the committee as we need to fill this role prior to David stepping down. David has simplified the system and brought us into the modern ways of working so this should be much easier for a successor to take on the role.
We would welcome anyone who feels that they could help develop the branch and society in any way. New members
on the committee or people to assist with individual tasks at events would be very much appreciated. The society needs to develop and grow so please contact the committee members if you are interested in helping out.
By the time you receive this magazine you will have got through the worst of
the winds, frost and snow hopefully
and looking forward to planting up the allotments and back gardens. I hope you all have a great growing season.
Adrian Read FNVS Chairman Northern Branch
Calabrese Marathon
54 Simply Vegetables
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