Page 6 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2024

I wasn’t going to miss the Scottish branch out and my next trip away was up to their annual seminar, in a new venue this year. This time I didn’t travel alone as Mark had agreed to be one of their speakers giving a talk on ‘Growing Beetroot – Long and
Globe.’ It was a really
enjoyable event as
always, but uppermost
in our minds was that
we were expecting our
fifth grandchild that
weekend too, so you can
imagine every time our
phones rang or pinged!
Thankfully they waited
till we got back home,
and on the Monday, we
were blessed with our
second grandson, Rowan
Anthony weighing in at a healthy 9lb 4oz.
Also at the Seminar, there were a couple of Scottish branch members, Jim Veitch and Neil Muirhead, who’s NVS awards
I presented as they had been unable to attend the National AGM to receive them back in September and as Medwyn was not at the seminar they had to do with the second best and received them from me.
At time of writing, our program of winter Zoom talks is well under way and the support from our members is fantastic. We are now averaging 200 plus
bookings for each talk, which is very encouraging. It’s our way of giving our members community more
to enjoy throughout the Winter months and give you food for thought, ideas, and inspiration
for the year ahead. As we start to plan our 2024/25 winter program, if there are any topics you would either like
to see in the future or would like to present yourself, please just let any of the Trustees team know (see page 3 for our details).
Looking forward, the National Championships this year will be hosted by
us by one of our partners, Medwyns of Anglesey, Thank you Medwyn. I’m sure all our members will enjoy giving them a go. I’m excited to try these for the first time and you never know, with the help of Emily Harris’s growing article in this edition, I might even manage to stage a pair on the show bench at Ardingly for
our chair’s challenge. Thanks Emily, it’s great to receive articles from growers, like yourself and also Keith
Chambers in the previous edition, the more we share our knowledge, the better growers we become.
Meanwhile, as the weather still plays a dominant part, the wind and rain has made its mark across the country including my heated glasshouse which has lost a few panes of glass, so until my handyman
gets into gear, I have had to make alternative plans. I have sourced an electric propagator and bought a new smaller heat
Lady Chair’s Report
SANDRA HALL FNVS, NATIONAL LADY CHAIR
Here we go again, time to write another article, doesn’t time fly when you are enjoying yourself? So, let’s start where we left off in my previous report. I said
the Southern branch at a new venue for the NVS National Championships, the South of England Showground, Ardingly alongside the South of England Agricultural Society Autumn Show and Horse Trials. Congratulations on finding somewhere new to promote the NVS and spread the word. I’m really looking forward to going.
In this issue of your SV Magazine, you will find a free packet of Romanesco Navona F1 Hybrid seeds given to
mat to fit the glasshouse staging I have moved into the conservatory. Yet again the conservatory has come into play and it’s a good job it is never really used during the winter months in our house. Gardening
is never easy or straight forward at times and there is always something to try us, but that’s the challenge and talking of challenges I am also planning to grow more 15 points veg ready to be able to enter the already popular new class at the National Championships.
By the time you read this the clocks may have just gone forward, and we will be having longer, warmer days, hopefully!
Happy Easter and good growing.
Gardening is never easy or straight forward at times and there is always something to try us
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maximum water it can) after the winter rains. They can be covered with large polythene sheets
February... By now areas that have been dug should be at field capacity (when soil is holding the
tools, equipment and canes. Store away ready for use.
www.strulch.co.uk • Tel: 01943 863610
social...
Getting
7M°Carfcohr.m..Wosativtefogrethaeblseosilstoewmnptehriastumreontothw.Aarrmouugphbgeufiodreisonwoitntgoosutatdrtosoorsw,intgneuendtislthoebweeaetdlesast holds12magazines.(3yearsworth)
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garden/allotment is tidy and clear of weeds before the start of growing and seeding in spring.
Store your magazines away. Each binder
Simply Vegetables Binder
Society - NVS
The National Vegetable
£5.00 + £2.95 P&P
www.nvsuk.org.uk
to establish. All bare root planting should be completed this month. Water in if the weather is dry.
oufftadnodorpsl.aSnttaerdt otuhtesridsein–dporoorvsidfoinr gpltahnetiwngeaotuhteirnisAnporitl.sPelvaenrtes. sCtaorvterdinigndwoiothrsflseheocueldwbillehhealprdtehneemd
start germinating. Sow carrots, lettuce, radish, parsnip, beetroot, peas, and similar hardy crops
To purchase contact:
top tip!
noddy.crudgington@outlook.com
on 01952 541396 or email:
Sandra Hall FNVS, Midlands Branch,
off-mains
toilets for
Waterless
Soil improving mulch
April to June
sites
per bag
£60
seeds, seven years weeds. This is very true!
pgrowblienmg taonpdrseevednitntgh.eRmembecmobmeirn:gonae years
On dry days hoe any areas with weeds
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April... It starts to get busy in the garden now: continue sowing crops outdoors to keep a
FCAUSSHTIOMNERD
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pumpkins, squash, runner and French beans. Wait until the last frost has occurred (may be June
throughoutthesummerandautumn.Laterinthemonthstarttoplantouttendervegetableslike BREOVCEHNUTRPERSO•GMRAGMAMZIENSES
May... Continue with any successional sowing required to ensure you have crops to pick N
Continue planting any crops started indoors or sown in seedbeds for transplanting.
Later in the month: runner and French beans can be sown into pots ready for planting out in May.
PRALLIYONUR T
LPEOA
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SFTLERT
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S•BFL
OYOEKRS
D
S
South of England
2024
www.natsol.co.uk
www.apsleyfarms.com
occur. Try to keep chemical use to a minimum to avoid harming bees and other beneficial insects.
in Scotland). Inspect all crops regularly for pests and diseases and take appropriate action if any
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Continue with successional sowing of other crops. If dry, start to water any crops that
June... Plant out the remaining tender vegetables and any others started indoors.
20-21 September 2024
Showground
West Sussex
Get the best from all your vegetables
and other edibles
NVS AGM
2024
wilting as this stresses the plants and makes them prone to pest and disease attack.
have been planted out in the last month or that appear dry. Try to water before they start
Soil improving mulch
South of England
Showground
July to September
LiquidSBuiiotsatbimleufloarnOtsrg&aMniyccGororhwiiznaglFungi 20September2024
West Sussex
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dry any surplus. If the crop has finished, clear the ground and prepare to sow a second crop
July... Pick any crops ready for harvesting before they become tough or go to seed. Freeze or
rootgrow.co.uk • 01795 411527 • sales@rootgrow.co.uk
aAuggreuesnt.m..Canounrteincureophatorviemstpinrogvaentdheclseoailrifnegrtiglirtoy.uTnhdereaadryetaoraen-sgoewo.fIfgareneyngmroaunudreisvaavcaailnatbsleow
fruiting crops.
polytunnels. Give a liquid feed once a week: a high nitrogen for leafy crops and high potash for
Yourmagazine!
Simply Vegetables Magazine...
Submit articles to
your water butts are empty after a dry summer, clean any debris out and wash out with a bleach
these days so choose any that can be sown now and dug in or composted during the winter. If
£60
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April 2024 – 25 January 2024
early in the month.
production. Don’t hard prsugnreo–wthisbashckoutoldthbreedeobnuedisntowienntecro.uCroamgepsleptuerasnaynsdtothnerefrfuoirtepfrluonwienrg
Rsoelmutoiovnetohekiclluarnreyndtiysearses. Later in the month start the summer pruning of apples and pears.
bulk bag*
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October 2024 – 24 July 2024
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tShepmteomntbhear.n..dAinymvialdcanuttugmronusndinctoanOsctiollbbeer.sAonwyncwroipthreamgareinesnamnadnoutrheecrrpolpanutpdteobtrhisesehnodulodf apsleyfarms.com
01264 554433
kelvin.mason123@btinernet.com
Email articles and photos to:
Japanese onion sets or any young plants sown earlier, for harvesting next June.
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Na*Dteiolinvewryidceosdtesliavpeprly
NVS Growing Books
Vthe quarterlEy magazinGe of the NatiEonal VegetTable SocieAty BVolumLe 29 PartE4 AutumSn 2023
––––––––SIMPLY ––––––––
Vthe quarterlEy magazinGe of the NatiEonal VegetTable SocieAty BVolumLe 28 PartE4 AutumSn 2022
––––––––SIMPLY ––––––––
––––––––SIMPLY ––––––––
top tip!
Prices range from £3.99–£8.50 plus P&P
Vthe quarterlEy magazinGe of the NatiEonal VegetTable SocieAty BVolumeL29 PartE3 SummSer 2023
clear and ready for next year.
tCidoymtphletgeayrdoeunr /daigllogtinmgenant dso it is
October to December
Find out more www.nvsuk.org.uk
Simply Veg 04_23.indd 1
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06/09/2023
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Simply Veg 04_22.indd 1
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10:27
No Dig growers need to apply mulch to the soil of at least 30mm preferable 40 to 50mm.
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October... Now is the time to give your greenhouse or polytunnel a thorough clean using
IGDIEFATL!
Benefits include:
Join us today!
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at the latest. This allows the weather to break the surface down to produce a tilth for sowing/
November... Start winter digging now and aim to complete by the end of the year or January
available.
Wide range of Getting Started booklets
Free access to all NVS organised shows.
Quarterlyfullcolourmagazine. December...Completeyourdiggingandtidythegarden/a NCeVnStrber”atnodperdovcildoetheinagsywaitchcensosmtoinoimffiucmial
Garlic and shallots can also be planted outdoors or in pots to plant out in the spring.
The NVS has teamed up with “The Hockey
NVS branded clothing
order requirements.
Updated, informative and user friendly website.
recognised speakers on hand to answer questions.
Local dist
rict meetings and
shows,
national
ly
the quarterly magazine of the National VegetaTble SocieAty BVolumeL28 PartE4 AutumSn 2022
VEG
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P–
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–
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Simply Vegetable
access to any. Enjoy your Christmas and catch up on your reading of
sheds, fruit cages or plant supports. Cut some new hazel poles if you have
ready for next year. Ensure weeds are removed. Make any rleloptamiresnttoscooimt ipsocslet abrinasn, d
s Magazine!
www.nvsuk.org.uk
www.nvsuk.org.uk
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0
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/2022 0
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Written and shared with kind permission by Kelvin Mason FNVS
Dedicated to advancing
improvement of vegetables;
the culture, study and
novice and expert growers
offering help and advice to
Baseball cap
£7.50
Beanie hat
£7.50
Sweat shirt
£
1
5.
00
Bodywarmer
£
2
2
.5
0
Harrogate Spring Flower Show
Proposed events for 2024...
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
RHS Malvern Spring Festival
Gardeners’ World Spring Fair
25-28 April 2024
9-12 May 2024
3-5 May 2024
Shrewsbury Flower Show
RHS Tatton Park Flower Show
The Great Yorkshire Show
19-23 July 2024
9-12 July 202
4
RBHBCS HGamrdpetnoenrsC’oWuortrlGdaLridven Festival
13-165JJuunley 2024
21-25 May 2024
NVS NAGatMion2a0l2C4hampionships 2024
Southport Flower Show
20-201 September 2024
15-18 August 2024
9-10 August 2024
GROIDWING GU LO
E GY PO
AThe Growing Guide insert 024: included in SV1.24 January 2 e Unfortunately, the dates of ths NVS National Championship 2024 and the NVS AGM 2024we were printed incorrectly and he sincerely apologise for this. The correct dates (as printed in t 2 magazine) are of course 21-2 September 2024 for the NVS National Championships andVS 21 September 2024 for the N AGM.
6 Simply Vegetables