Page 33 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

NVS Ireland “Virtual” Vegetable Competition 2020
RAYMOND HIGGINS FNVS
The Irish DA was delighted with the response to its Virtual” Vegetable competition 2020. Our members cover
all parts of Ireland and with no shows our aim was to promote and encourage the growing of quality vegetables during an unprecedented year, connect with our members and encourage others to join the NVS. Entrants were asked to record the garden as the vegetable’s seeds are sown, during the growing season, just before harvest and photograph 4 varieties of vegetables harvested, washed and presented. This competition was confined to residents of Ireland with prizes awarded to members and non-members.
The rules were posted online on our Facebook page on 12th April and later published in Simply Vegetables. Entries closed on September 1st, 2020. Supportive text was required with each entry including naming of the variety of vegetable. A current newspaper was requested with the final image of the presented vegetables for verification of date. 60% our DA members entered the competition which was judged by a National Vegetable Society qualified judge.
Results Members
After a close competition Harold Lawlor, Co. Laois came out on top. This achievement is all the greater since Harold celebrated his 97th birthday in July 2020. Harold a reigning All-Ireland champion from 2019 and has won
Harold Lawlor
several championships since the start of the decade.
Harold got the leeks as young plants in December from Medwyn’s of Anglesey’s. He planted them into 3” pots and kept them in the heated glasshouse and planted them on as and when they needed to be transferred into a larger pot. He planted them into a prepared raised bed in April in his Tunnel. His parsnip seed was chitted in early March and were planted into the large barrels that
Harold Lawlor
contained sand and his special mix. His carrot seed was also chitted and planted into barrels. He sowed his Cauliflowers every three weeks from early April to end of May. This gives him ample cover for shows from August onwards. The four varieties of vegetables presented were blanch Leeks
- Lanedwen, Carrots - Sweet Candle, Parsnips - Victor and Cauliflower - Aviso.
Second Place went to Ken Hall, Co. Antrim. Ken grows all his vegetables in his
Ken Hall
Ken Hall
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