Season 2013

I was lucky enough to win in the raffle12 HDN Shallots at the NVS Scottish Branch seminar last Saturday.  On close inspection they had all started to shoot so after taking advice from the forum I decided to plant them up today along with 4 of my own shallots.  As I have not yet ordered up my Levingtons compost I decided to try and mix my own, levingtons give you the analysis of their composts on their web site.  I purchased some of B&Q general purpose compost which is 59% peat this I mixed with shredded peat I had then sieved out the rubbish.  I then added N,P&K  along with some lime to ensure the pH was correct and Perlite to aid drainage.

I had also discovered that a number of the top Shallot growers dip their shallots in a fungicide prior to planting to protect against any nasties so I gave them a dip in Rovral.  I was slightly disappointed to discover that some of the shallots I won were suffering from soft neck rot so after careful inspection I had 7 to pot up along with 4 of my own.  I have labelled the 7 differently from my own and it will be interesting to monitor their progress through out the growing season.  All the shallots are in 13 cm square pots in my unheated greenhouse.  The season begins.  

NVS Scottish Branch Seminar

On Saturday I attended the Scottish Branch of the NVS annual seminar at Penicuik.  This is my second seminar and it was a very well run and informative day.  Not only did I meet up with a number for fellow grower but also caught up with friends from through out Scotland and  England it was great.  The main veg speakers were Dave Metcalf (Mr Pendle Improved) himself and Eric Craik (on growing a collection) Both men were very informative and if I manage to remember a 10th of what they told us I'll be doing well.  Mr Barbour of JBA seed potatoes gave a great talk on the challenges of the commercial potato grower.

I also met a couple of very nice ladies who are thinking of taking up growing veg for showing and as I said to them on Saturday go for it and by joining the NVS and the members forum there is a wealth of knowledge which is given freely by some top growers, which no doubt helped me greatly this season.

It was great to see Neil Muirhead, Helen Vincent and my fellow islander Niall Currie along with a number of fellow members/growers from further North than me.

Pictures from Dufftown 2012 Show

Hi folks sorry I've not been posting much but like most folk I've taken a wee break to re charge the batteries and get ready for 2013. But before I start I'd like to post the only three pictures I've managed to retrieve from the ether.

Below was my plate of Harmony which won best plate of potatoes

Here is my board with Blue Belle and Harmony which won the Andrew Rugg trophy for best mixed collection.

This was my Parsnips "Polar" which I was very happy with. So its on to the planning for 2013.  On the 17th of November I'm off to the Scottish Branch (NVS) seminar in Edinburgh.  Its nearly 4 hrs from my home but I went last year and it was a great day.  Hopefully I'll meet up with fellow bloggers and NVS forum users and pick up some useful tips from the speakers.  Which I'll post later in the week.   

Dufftown Horticultural Society Show Results

Well today has been a great day for me.  As I said earlier Dufftown is a two day show and I benched on Friday night.  looking at what was already there I thought I'd be lucky to make any impact.  Well how wrong I was.  12 firsts 2 seconds and a third.  Most firsts in section plus best plate of potatoes and cup for matched white and coloured plates of potatoes shown on a tray.

If that was not enough I was introduced to a lot of fine growers in the Banff and Aberdeenshire area, with offers of coming to see there growing set up and the fellow who won the collection class and the leek class gave me one to put down for pips next year.

I was even introduced as ("up & coming") Although I'm no spring chicken these growers all had time for a chat it was great.

Sorry not pictures as they are floating about in space just need to get them.

Forres & District Flower Show results

Well after a very stressful Friday trying to prepare veg for two shows I managed to bench 11 exhibits at Forres today.  Sorry no pictures as phone was dead at show.  6 firsts 3 seconds and a third.  So really pleased.  This show has been won by the same fellow for years and this is the first time he has had any real competition   unfortunately he is not very talkative and I did not manage to have much of a blether with him.  I had firsts in potato board and both coloured & whites. Peas, Stump carrots and Beetroot, my seconds were my veg collection which consisted of Leeks, Celery,Parsnips,Stumps & Peas: other seconds were Pair of Caulies and Cucumber with a second set of stumps getting third.
So all in all a happy chappie just need to start to plan for next year now and see if I can make further improvement.

Only one more Sleep

Well only one more sleep till I bench at Dufftown tomorrow night.  Never been to the show but at every show I've been to this year I was asked if I would be benching at Dufftown. Also was handed a Schedule by a gentleman I've never met before at my last show and told"give this one a go" So my interest duly pricked I'm hoping to have a number of entries for benching on Friday night.  I have already got my white & coloured potatoes sorted plus my Board with three varieties and a tray with a white and a coloured.  Will try a collection and hopefully will have Parsnips and long beet plus Caulies Peas cucumber and stump carrots.  Then on Saturday morning will hopefully have the same again at my local show.  Will be busy tomorrow.

Only 8 days to go

Its only 8 days till my last two Shows.  Forres on Saturday the 8th September and Dufftown which is a two day show also on 8th & 9th September. Its going to be a bit of a struggle but hope to have enough for a collection at both, plus potato collection at both and some Celery, Shallots and Peas. Also will lift my Long Beet and Parsnips but dont hold out much hope for them.  But will wait and see.  I'm taking the Friday off to get stuff ready and will work away at my potatoes during the next eight days.