Medwyn Williams is full-on into show season
How will my beetroot and parsnips do at the big event in Harrogate this weekend?
From now through to the end of September it’s show time for me, going to show after show, either judging or staging at them. This weekend will probably be the biggest and best at Harrogate, not only because Harrogate stages a top quality show, but also because the National Vegetable Society Championships are held there this year. The NVS championships move around the five branches and this year it’s the turn of the Northern Branch committee to stage this highly prestigious event. Entry to this, and all other NVS shows, is free but you must be a member of the society or a member of an affiliated society.
I shall be travelling to Harrogate this Thursday and I hope to stage some of my long beetroot and parsnips, providing they pull good enough to stage. The difficulty with roots, of course, is that you don’t know what you have until you pull them, and all you have to go on are the size and quality of the tops. I‘ve 20 barrels in total this year – 10 for my own long beet and 10 for a new white, long one, which will be quite unique if it pulls as good as the mother plant I planted last year. I’ll pull the long beetroot first as it will keep fresher for longer, so I’ll lift them on the Wednesday and keep them under damp cloths until I pack them. Initially I’ll pull just three and if they’re looking promising then I’ll lift some more. I’ve always believed if you have a good bed of root crops and the first three you pull (whatever variety they are) are of no use, then pulling another 30 would probably give you the same result. I also have two lots of parsnips this year, ‘Warrior’ and ‘TZ9045’, which has now been named ‘Viking’. Which five I’ll select I’m not sure, as at the time of writing they’re both looking very good with strong tops on them. I’ll keep you posted! Why not follow me on Twitter throughout the season as I grow vegetables for my display at Malvern – @medwynsofangles.