North of Scotland DA (National Veg Society)

Not a lot happening with my plot at the moment.  Leeks are still ticking over and are starting to grow on after repotting them.  They are now on 10 hrs of light per day.  This is probably a lot less than some growers but I had a really problem last year with all my leeks running to seed so I've decided to take things a bit slower this year.  I will be on leave over the last week in January and I hope to constuct new beds and sort out my growing mixes then.

On Sunday we had the first comittee meeting of the newly formed North of Scotland District Association of the NVS Scottish Branch. All committee members were present with the exception of one who is unfortunatly is unwell just now.  We set our sylabus for the coming year with proposed meeting dates and hopefully a away day in July.

With this in mind our first open meeting will be at the Chieftain Hotel Inverness on the 30th of January at 19.00.  There will be a slide show presented by J MacKay showing some of the main shows in our area plus pictures from the 2013 Scottish Branch championships. This will be supplemented with a panel night in the form of a Q & A.

This is open to all interested parties, there is no requirement to be a NVS member so please feel free to come along and enjoy the night.    

Leeks, to pot on or not!!

Well here we have the root structure of one of my Leeks. As you can see there is a fair amount of healthy white roots starting to bottom out of the pot.  The pots they were in were 7cm square pots so I've moved them up to 1/2 litre pots.

Here they are in the growing area.  This is just a box constructed of "sterling board" with insulation foil stapled to the inside.  My T5 light is suspended from the top, and is on a timer giving 9 hrs of light. The thermostat you can see in the photo control's my tube heater which is at the bottom of the chamber and is set to come on when the temp falls below 12 degrees C.  The leeks are growing steadily and most are three inch to the button.  As these leeks are not Pendle or Pendle Improved I have been advised by a number of more experienced growers that there is no need to collar them at this time.  They currently are getting one spray of SB invigorator  per week. So fingers crossed they keep growing on.

2014 Show season starts here!!!

Hi folks I know its been a while since I last posted.  I've been really busy at work but I've managed to start away some leeks from a Leek I put down to seed from Bert Marshall at Dufftown.  This strain of Leeks have been in Bert's hands for at least 10 years and more likely 15 years.  The original leeks came from A Grey so I would expect them to be "Welsh seedlings".  Anyway I managed to plant up 80 seedlings at the beginning of November and have thinned them down to 15.  As you can see from below they are about 14 inches tall and 2.5 inch to the button.  These plants are getting 9 hrs of light per day and the grow cabinet is not going below 12 degrees C at night. I'm also giving them a weekly spray with SB plant invigorator to help keep any "nasties" at bay.  I'm planning to pot up to 13cm pots in the next week.   

Below is some Shallots that I started away on the 14th of December.  The yellow labels are what is left of my Hative De Niort shallots from 2013.  I had a real disaster and only 6 survived.  Niall Currie came to my rescue and has sent me some up with Dave Mercer which I picked up today. (Still to plant)  The red lables are my own Red Sun saved shallots for local shows.

Well thats all just now I hope to keep everybody up to speed this year with my attemps to obtain a "Red" ticket at the NVS Scottish Branch show.

Dufftown Show Results

Well that's me just back from Dufftown, where I was fortunate enough to have another great day.  This is one of the friendliest shows around and with some quality entries on show. I picked up 5 Firsts, 5 Seconds and a third.  Also Best Exhibit out with collections for my  small potato board.  I also won the cup for the Potato section and the Pea cup (this one rotates round different classes each year) My stumps won the special for best carrots.   

Again I met some cracking people and spent a very enjoyable few hours in their company. 

Results for my First NVS Show

Well I had a great day at Dundee today @ the Scottish Branch NVS Championships.  This is the first time I've been at a "Big" show.  I was absolutely shocked when I picked up two third prize tickets.  One for my "Globo" onions less than 250 gms.  this was out of 18 entries and was the bigest class at the show.  

I also got a third out of 10 for the class 3 x 1 veg.  This was open only to exhibitors who had never won a ticket at ant NVS show.

I met so many other exhibitors and now have a far better understanding of the size and quality of veg I need to grow to compete at this level.  great Day,

NVS Scottish Branch Championships

Well that's me got my three entries sorted for the Scottish Branch show at Dundee over the next three days.  I have never been to a top class show never mid shown at one so I'm very nervous. I have entered three classes.
1) Collection of any three veg from an exhibitor who has never won a ticket at any NVS National or branch show.  As you can see I have a pea pod, a potato and a stump carrot.  (Show perfection, NVS Sherine & Sweet candle.)

2) Onions from set. ( Stur BC 20)

3) Onions less than 250 gms ( Globo)

To be honest if I get any sort of ticket I will be delighted, however it is more so that I can get a feel for the bigger shows and see where I'm at in this learning curve.

Results from Lhanbryde Show

On Saturday it was Lhanbryde Show.  This was the first show I entered some four years ago although it is 20 odd miles from me I like to support it.  However as I have already posted due to work etc I have not paid enough attention to my veg this year and I have not grown much quality veg this year. As I had a cup to return I felt that I should make an effort to give the show an entry.  As I was playing rugby on Saturday I asked the Show manager to bench a plate of onions from set and a plate under 100 gms.  When I went to pick my onions up on Sunday imagine my surprise when I had secured a first for the sets and a second for the 100 gms onions.  I also won the onion cup, Best exhibit in fruit & Veg and runner up to Best in Show.  Absolutely shocked, and delighted.