Page 53 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

The Scottish Garden Show 2021
Scottish Branch dates for the diary
Please note; all planned events are based on being able to meet any applicable Government’s Covid 19 rules nearer the time. Please double check before planning to attend any event, thank you.
2021 Q2
May 15th – 13:00
Scottish Branch Committee Meeting Placeholder
Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder
May 29th-31st
10:00-17:00 each day Scotland’s Garden Show Scone Palace
September 4th
Scottish Branch Championships Haddington Corn Exchange, Main Street, Haddington EH41 3AA
Since the demise of annual Gardening Scotland Event, the NVS Scottish Branch is excited that we are have been asked
to participate at the inaugural Scottish Garden Show which will take place in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace from Sat 29th through to Mon 31st May (bank holiday Monday). 10.00 till 17.00 each day.
The Scottish branch aims to have a stand at this event to promote the National Vegetable Society, provide growing advice and offer plants for sale, hopefully including our famous leek plants.
Scone Palace is home to Head Gardener, Brian Cunningham who is also a presenter with BBC’s Beechgrove Garden. Brian has been fundamental in the organisation of
The Scottish Garden Show and will be on hand at the Show itself. Jim Williams and Ian Stocks have been in communication with Brian about the show and we are all looking forward to this new event.
The Gardening Show event will offer a fantastic day of family friendly fun for anyone that enjoys gardens or gardening. The Show will include:
• Specialist Nurseries
• Shop and Drop Service
• Advice and tips from experts and
growers
• Family friendly activities
• A taste of Perthshire food stalls • Competitions and more
Children of all ages will be entertained
with an array of activities, including seeding, planting, and garden pallet competitions. The Scottish Garden Show will also offer a wide array of food and drink stalls.
The organisers have planned the Scottish Garden Show with suitable safety measures in mind including extending the event to cover three days rather than two, staggered entry times and site navigation and signage. So, fingers crossed as I type this article in February that it will still go ahead.
You can find out more from the Scottish Garden Show website www.scottishgardenshow.com
or alternatively click on the link in the events section of the NVS website www.nvsuk.org.uk
Fiona Shenfield
Northern Branch
Chairmans report
MEMBERS 20000 TO 29999
Firstly, may I welcome all new members who have joined the society this year many who have used the new online system. It is a massive improvement on the old system and also offers members direct access to the goods available and information on all areas of the society from judges to office holders. We can also inform members of events being held and invite them to attend meetings. We have already had some Zoom meetings which have been very well attended and reports were very positive.
The allotments will be well attended if last year is anything to go by. I am hoping that some shows will go ahead this year. The Harrogate Spring flower show is still planning to hold an event but this will now be in
May not April. We are also planning for a National in September. I know some people think we should not plan any events until the pandemic has gone away but hopefully things will be much more under control by the back end of the year and it would be
a shame not to have an event that is the highlight of the year for the
germination has been high. If in doubt I
sow a small pot of seeds to see how they germinate before I need to sow the ones I need. Some do not attempt to grow and others come up in stages. This gives me time to purchase new stock if needed. I have just sown the culinary leeks in one litre pots ready for the Harrogate show but will now need to sow some a month later. I plan to use up the brassica seeds that I have to sell at the show as it will be too late for tomatoes this year.
Please look out for any events on the new website. You only need to type in National Vegetable Society on Google and it takes you directly to the page. All members will get full access to the site.
Let’s hope that this year will be a good growing year and we all get rewarded for our efforts.
I have set myself a challenge this year to grow something new, I am going to try growing the cape gooseberry.
Happy growing.
Adrian read FNVS Chairman Northern Branch
The Northern branch is very much behind the changes and we will do all we can to develop the society in a way that supports all the membership.
I am sure safety of all concerned will be at the forefront of any decisions made during this year
exhibitors. I am sure safety of all concerned will be at the forefront of any decisions made during this year. It is much easier to cancel an event than try to a plan one at short notice.
I have spent a weekend sorting through my old seeds and trying to decide what to discard. I have
I have been in contact
with the Districts and held
meetings on Zoom. All the
areas within the Northern
branch are doing what they
can to support members but as yet we have been unable to meet up for DA meetings. These will return when we feel it is safe to do so but given the severity of the virus and the age group that a lot of our members are in we need to make sure that we do not put anyone at risk unnecessarily.
packets of seeds from years ago but some are difficult to get now. I throw away any parsnips and lettuce seeds as I find they do not keep but cucumbers and brassica are quite good even when a few years old. I have some tomato seeds that are eight years old this year and up to last year the
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