Page 31 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Support your
local gardening
society’s
annual shows
Last October, whilst visiting friends
that live in Ruan Minor near Helston
Cornwall, the 74th Grade-Ruan Minor
Horticultural Annual Show was being
held. Our friends are vice presidents of
this society, they are keen to encourage
old and young to enter, it has a history of
farm produce classes which I have never
come across in my judging experience of
my local area. Dennis (retired farmer) is
a son of Guinness World Record Holder
for growing a 62 lbs mangold (fodder
beet) and Dennis tries to continue the
tradition. He will even resort to looking
in local fields for one. Dennis is well
known among the local farmers and to
help the show’s exhibits to increase, he
offers to collect exhibits for the farmers
as October is still a busy time for them,
and set the exhibits up for the exhibitors,
which is much appreciated by the
farmers and the show committee.
Two days before the show, Dennis asked
me to help with the mangold hunting for
this, a bit naïve, I agreed, and we set off
in his little white van, out on the moors of
Goonhilly Downs looking for suitable large
mangolds. I did not know they ran so quick;
Dennis went one way; I went the other and
eventually we cornered a set of six. Next
morning Dennis said we need another set,
are you fit enough to catch some was the
comment.
I still do not know where we found them,
up and down lanes where I had never been
in my life before, and I have visited this area
of Cornwall many times. They were an old
Cornish variety called “Theybehandsome”
Gold f1. We did manage to catch another
six, boy can they mangolds run!! We got
another 6, for staging at the show later
that evening. We staged the mangolds,
unfortunately, we then realised we were
short of 3 maize cobs – peeled for another
exhibit’s entry. It was getting dusk, but we
rushed off to a local farmer’s field, to source
the exhibits, poaching came to mind, and I
thought I was going to end up in court, no
blue lights thankfully.
Early start the next morning, we needed
to stage other exhibits in the show,
including silage, hay and grain for the farm
produce part of the show. Mary and Dennis
had entered 18 classes across the show,
including leek plants that Dennis sourced
from me, which were sent in the post and
arrived safely, we found out later, he had
got a red card and best exhibit in show for
the leeks. We went back to the farmhouse
for breakfast to await the judge’s decisions.
Well, all the hunting and running, paid
off, with several red cards between them
and best exhibits in some sections. The
farmers/growers were all happy with their
results, but the heaviest mangold alluded
Dennis this year, I think he should stick to
growing leeks and onions, leave it to the
younger generation, there are some good
growers in the area, congratulations to all.
It is a lovely show, there was lots of entries
in all sections. There were numerous
entries in the children’s section of classes
and many thanks to the local primary
school for all their help in encourage the
youngsters.
If you would like to grow this mangold
variety “Theybehandsome” Gold f1 seed, let
me know and will arrange with Dennis to
go and see if we can catch some!
Bob Bleasdale FNVS
Simply Vegetables 31