Page 62 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Southern Branch
MEMBERS 50000 TO 59999
Chairman’s Report
As I pen (do people use pens anymore?
but in my opinion it is a better expression
than type) this article in the second half of
January, most of my time is taken up with
processing NVS membership renewals
and Brighton & Lewes Beekeepers
renewals, not that I am complaining
though, as with the awful weather that we
are currently experiencing it is far better
to be here indoors writing this article in
the warm than outside in the cold, wind
and rain doing who knows what.
I have been putting off cutting my mixed
native hedging around the front garden,
but I know that I will have to do it in the
next couple of weeks before the sap starts
to rise. This hedge is made up of species
of Quickthorn, Blackthorn, Field Maple,
Dog Rose, Dogwood, Hazel and 3 male
& 8 female Holly, which has been in now
for about 18 years. Over the past four
years or so I have also been harvesting
wild blackberries, obviously introduced by
bird droppings, but who am I to complain,
especially when I harvested over 4kg of fruit
last year. Generally, I cut the hedge back to
about 5-6ft and with a double staggered row
of plants this provides a nice dense hedge
when in leaf but also provides a degree of
privacy after the leaves all drop during late
Autumn and Winter. I know for a fact that
whilst the initial cost was quite high, over
the past 18 years I have saved a fortune on
repairing the old pale fencing, which living
almost at the top of the South Downs we
suffer from some very strong winds. It is
gratifying to see the hedge sway in the wind
knowing that if I had the old fencing up then
it would almost certainly have been knocked
down by now.
I am not quite certain how I came to
this decision, but I have decided to grow
some peanut (groundnut) plants this year.
Reading the growing instructions for these
will give me a bit of a challenge as quite a
bit of space is needed around each plant.
Spikes are put out above ground from each
plant which then have to dive down to bury
themselves and it is these spikes that go
beneath the soil on which the nuts will be
produced. I will try to keep a diary of this
exercise that may form the basis of an article
for a future edition of the SV. (I have tried a
couple of time with little success so keep us
informed of your result Norman - Ed).
There are a number of events scheduled
in the Southern Branch area in April and
May. The first will be the South of England
Spring Live event scheduled for 26th and
27th April 2025 at the South of England
62 Simply Vegetables
Showground in Ardingly. As in previous
years, the Sussex DA will have a presence
there, so come along and say Hello to us
when you visit the event https://www.seas.
org.uk/
The Hants DA will once again be
organising a stand at the Gardeners World
Spring Fair at Beaulieu on 2nd, 3rd and
4th May 2025. This has now become an
established fixture in the calendar and
there will be plenty to interest all. Tickets
to the Fair will also give you admission
to the Motor Museum, Palace House,
Little Beaulieu and Beaulieu Abbey. The
organisers advise booking in advance as
tickets may not be available on the day
https://www.beauliedu.co.uk/events/bbc-
gardeners-world-fair-spring/.
It has been just over 14 months (at time of
writing) since I had to give up my allotment
and with the personal problems that I had
in 2024 I did not do too much in the way of
growing vegetables, just a few onions and
tomatoes. 2025 is and will be different and
I have already purchased seed for many
different veg types and by the time that
you read this they will be well on the way,
growing wise. I shall again be growing my
staples of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers,
peppers (both sweet and chili) runner
beans, melons and depending on how much
space that I have left in my limited garden
space maybe some butternut squash and
courgettes, both grown vertically on cane
wigwam s. I started growing squashes and
courgettes vertically like this several years
ago on the allotment, not necessarily to
save space but found that growing them
vertically actually allowed the fruit to ripen
evenly, especially the courgettes where
Surrey DA
By the time you are reading this
the Surrey DA will have held their
AGM and one of two things will
have happened.
1 – at the AGM, a new committee
would have been elected and the
DA will be continuing, I hope that
this is the case, and we can continue
with an active Surrey DA; or 2 –
unfortunately, a committee couldn't
be formed, and the DA has been
"mothballed”, hoping that in the
future it can be resurrected. We all
hope that the DA is continuing, and
members are involved in the running
of the Surrey DA.
there was not the distinctive light colour on
the underside of the fruit. Apart from the
space saving and even ripening benefits,
growing them vertically allowed better air
circulation which has reduced the risk of
mildew forming. If you have never grown
vertically, then give it a try, you have nothing
to lose. One downside that I found a couple
of years ago was that some round squash
varieties did tend to be a little elliptical in
shape when grown vertically, but if they are
only for consumption and not for show then
the shape is not critical. Of course I could
have supported them, as I do when growing
honeydew melons in the greenhouse but as
I say, these were only for consumption, so I
did not bother.
Well, the deadline for submission of this
article is rapidly approaching, so I will close
in my normal way by wishing you a good
growing and showing year and hope to
see some of you at the South of England
Spring Live event in April, or on Saturday,
3rd May at the Gardeners World Spring Fair
at Beaulieu.
Norman Dickinson FNVS
Report for Sussex DA
At our November (2024) meeting we were entertained by Lesley Baker, a lady
tree surgeon, who made us aware why we should always use a professional for
tree work.
We should ask to see their qualifications and insurance. She showed us all the
safety equipment that should be used and what could go wrong. Lesley then recalled
some of the jobs she had done and difficulties with some of them. We then got into 4
groups, and she set us a quiz to match pictures of trees, their fruit or flower with short
lengths of their logs. It was the first time she had spoken to a group where everyone
got them correct. The Power of NVS!
Our AGM is on 12th March, at Ashurst Village Hall, 7.00 for 7.30 pm. On 26/27th
April we shall be selling plants at Spring Live, Ardingly Showground on a promotional
stand. The Committee have discussed ideas for the meeting on May 14th and
November 12th. Our usual Mini Show will be held on September 10th. A summer visit
is being looked at. Further information can be obtained from Hon Secretary. Brian
Jeffries, 01342 328719