Page 8 - Simply Veg Issue 1 2016

been wet and mild so it will be interesting to see what is to come.
Well what is in store for you in this copy of Simple Vegetables? I am pleased to say that Derek Brooks has taken over writing the seasonal jobs and has included a few hints and tips on ower growing as most of our members will grow some owers either for exhibition, decorative use or attracting pollinating insects to the allotment.
I have given the centre pages over to Mick Poultney, it’s not just Playboy that has centre spreads!
is useful even if late.
Emily Plumb continues her articles on how
to use the NVS website, I am sure it is not just me who gets onto websites and then does not have a clue of how to navigate it and nd what I am looking for; so hopefully some members will nd this useful and make greater use of the website.
Organic growing continues to be in vogue and Gerry Edwards is covering the growing of fruit organically in his fruit section. Top fruit is one of the hardest crops to grow organically
Kelvin’s Comments
First may I wish all members a Happy
New Year and good gardening and may
all your crops be winners whether you show them or eat them or both. As I write this in November I cannot say what sort
of weather we will be getting when you receive this magazine in January; but one of the long range forecasts says that as it was a good El Nino last year and that we would have a wet and mild winter up to the end of the year and then a very cold start to 2016. So far it has
Especially for the ladies I have given the centre pages over to Mick Poultney, it’s not just Playboy that has centre spreads! Mick is going into greater depth on how he works with nature to produce a top rate soil to grow his vegetables. He looks at the soil food web and how this is involved in the soil environment to produce a fertile soil and can also reduce the incidence of pest and disease attacks.
Many of you may be wondering what the feedback was from the survey and who won the seed vouchers, but at the time of writing
this we have not had chance to collate them and consider your responses. I will comment on this in the next magazine, but if any of you have forgotten to send it back please still send it as any feedback
On a similar theme I am pleased to welcome
back Geoff Wilson who is covering slugs and snails in this magazine and will cover a couple of other pests in future Simple Vegetables. In case anyone thinks I am going into over drive with pests and diseases this year they will only be a small part of the magazine. The reason for the inclusion of these articles is that the most common problems the RHS is contacted about are pests and diseases and one of the top three are slugs and snails; so it likely that many of our members have problems with these pests.
I have started a new series in this edition of Simple Vegetables called Getting started in the Greenhouse; I have “pinched” the title from Derek’s series on the allotments and intend to cover growing under protected structures to a similar extent and will not just cover greenhouse growing but also growing under poly-tunnels and the use of cold frames for members who have not got the space for a greenhouse. If there are any particular vegetable or fruit crops you would like covering please let me know.
as it is prone to a number of different pest and diseases. Gerry gives a number of tips on how to overcome these and achieve good fruit.
Ian Stocks has sent an article on alternative growing which is something I am interested in as I believe we will need to use different growing methods in the future if we are to feed the ever increasing population not only in the U.K but in the world. We will need to get more food but off less land and need to try and experiment with these techniques now so that we can do it when we need.
On a sadder note you will notice a number of obituaries in this magazine of members who have recently died, these were stalwarts
of the society and we need to replace them if we are to continue
as a thriving organisation. Many D.A’s some branches and even the executive have vacancies, so please consider helping out at committee level. To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy “Ask not what can
the NVS do for you; ask what can you do for the NVS”. And with that thought I will leave you contemplate your vegetable growing for 2016.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Thank you Mr Maisey.
A few years ago I had the privilege to act as steward to the legendary Charlie Maisey and he so impressed me I felt I had to become a judge. Later that year I attended a seminar run by Len Stebbings on judging. Then the following year with some helpful tuition from John Trim I passed the NVS exams held that year at Romford under the watchful eye of Len Stebbings, Gordon Francis and Neil Hope.
After a few too many birthdays and a little blip health wise I am very grateful to still be spending time judging at various shows around the area thereby being able to spend time with the growing and showing fraternity.
One thing that has struck me over the years reading the
various garden magazines and seed catalogues is the number of vegetables rarely seen on the show bench. I feel some societies are missing a trick and could include a different vegetable each year
in their schedule and see what response they get from exhibitors. How about trying a new class each year, discuss it at a club night or at the AGM, share some seeds and encourage more members to have a go. Just a few suggestions, most of which will grow in containers or raised beds so a large garden or allotment is not required are white or golden beetroot, various colours of turnips, fennel, chard and what about round carrots or celeriac (lovely creamed with the Sunday roast). Others include kohl rabi, swede, radish round or long (mooli), salsify, scorzonera and starbor kale.
There is a butternut squash called Butterbush that will grow well in a large pot. I also tried a Brussels Sprout called Marte from D.T
Brown which is ready in late August and looked good on the show bench and it tasted good as well!
And nally a footnote, after you have cleared your exhibits from the show bench make a point of thanking the volunteers who have made the show possible – they deserve it.
Len Sherring, Southern Branch
Len has raised a number of points in his letter, one is learning from the experts; try to watch or get experience by stewarding or shadowing expert judges and get help or tuition from experienced judges.
The second point is many shows seem to complain or comment on falling entries, so it may well be worth a go by adding a different or unusual vegetable or fruit to your schedule and see what response you get. Many shows I judge at seem to have the same schedule each year a change may encourage new exhibitors or
at least some extra or new entries. As long as the exhibitors know well in advance they can grow the new crop hence Len’s point about discussing it before the show. Supplying a few seeds can also encourage people to grow the crop even if they have a small garden if it can be grown in a container.
Some of the vegetables in the list are sometimes seen in “Any other Vegetables” but rarely in a class of their own. It may also encourage the growing of them which would be good for the future of vegetable growing. I judged at a show in mid-September last year and there were some very good Sprouts in the any other veg class to which I gave a prize so they should be worth a try. Ed
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