Page 43 - Simply Veg Issue 2 2018

Growers Profile
John Goodall FNVS
John’s been married to Pauline for 53 years and they have 3 children, 4 grandchildren and
2 great-grandchildren (plenty of scope to continue the growing tradition then). As well as vegetable growing John keeps a few banties (small Chickens) in the back garden for fresh eggs.
He lives in South Normanton, Derbyshire and is a retired painter & decorator. He has a Fellowship of the NVS and has been a member of the NVS for 25 years and is the current Chairman of the North East Derbyshire DA.
Mick Shipley carried out the following interview with John...
Who was/is the most influential person for you in gardening?
“My dad always thought and said a bit of gardening was good for you, so I went off chasing footballs, cricket balls and women (not always in that order). I really should have listened to my dad more!”
Where do you grow your vegetables?
“I’m lucky enough to have a large back garden, so I grow all my vegetables on my own garden”
When did you first start growing vegetables?
“I first started to grow vegetables about 60 years ago (showing my age a bit there)”.
What made you start growing vegetables?
“I grew up in the era when growing your own vegetable was very important to everyone, so I just followed suit and haven’t looked back since”.
When did you first start showing vegetables?
“My very first show I entered was at our local Chapel Show many, many years ago”.
Your first exhibit was?
My first exhibit was a plate of potatoes (can’t remember the variety). They were dug up and placed on the Show Bench, I was proud as anything. I didn’t know you were supposed to wash them before staging them though. If I’d washed them I’m sure I would have won”.
Favourite garden tool?
“My dad always kept reminding me that I should never walk around the garden without a hoe in my hand. It’s something I still try to practise today”.
Best purchase for the vegetable plot?
“Without doubt AreoMesh to beat the dreaded carrot fly”.
Most enjoyable part of growing vegetables or gardening?
Taking in all the fresh air and exercise you want and the best bit is its free”.
Most dis-likable part of gardening?
“The laborious task of cleaning up and clearing the garden at the end of the season when it looks like a right old tip”.
Favourite vegetable to grow & why?
I don’t think there is anything more pleasing on the eyes than a good set of long roots, for me its Long Carrots”. See John pictured with his winning root veg.
Least favourite vegetable to grow and why?
“I’m not particularly good at growing brassica’s, but unfortunately for me the Lady of the House insists I grow them”.
What do you like most about showing vegetables?
“The challenge of growing top class exhibition vegetables to compete at the top shows against the very best growers and the friends and memories I have from all around the UK”.
Most memorable moment showing vegetables?
“Walking into Royal Hall, Harrogate and seeing all the awesome
vegetables that had been staged and the fantastic feeling I had when I got my first ‘Red Card’”.
Most disappointing moment when showing or gardening vegetables?
“When you pull what you think and looks like a top class beautiful looking carrot, you then wash and inspect only to see the tell tail signs of the dreaded Carrot Fly. Believe me, it’s surprising how far you can throw a carrot when you are really annoyed”.
Most difficult vegetable you find to grow?
“For me its celery, very hard work and time consuming. I’ve had limited success with celery but nothing special”.
If you could, what would you change or add to your plot?
“I’ve never had a poly-tunnel. It’s one of those things you want but keep putting
off and managing with what you’ve got. I think for me now it’s a bit late in the
day for a tunnel”.
Any future ambitions?
“To keep boring & coring for as long as I can”.
Any other hobbies/pastimes?
“I’m an avid old coin collector, I know I spend too much time at antique auctions looking for old coins. Pauline says it keeps me out of the pub, well if Pauline’s happy with that then I’m happy too”.
John, thank you very much for your time. “Happy Boring & Coring”.
simplyvegetables 43
National Championships
Our National Championships will this year be held, by kind permission of The North of England Horticultural Society, at the Great Yorkshire Show Ground as part of The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show on Friday 14th September to Sunday 16th September 2018. We are extremely grateful to Marshall’s seeds for sponsoring this event.
We are also grateful to DT Brown for sponsoring two new classes at the championships, they are one dish of four Subeto Globe Beetroot and one dish for the heaviest Pepper Gogorez (both lots of seeds will be supplied in the SV magazine). Neither of these classes will be included as part of the championships.
Schedules for the North of England Championships, the Onion, leek, Carrot and Potatoes Championships also including a giant class for Vegetables can be obtained from North of England Horticultural Society
Telephone 01423 546158 or e mail info@flowershow.org.uk
John Goodall FNVS