Allotment - the Where, When, Why and How - the National Vegetable Society

If you want to grow prize-winning fruit and vegetables but aren't sure where to start, The National Vegetable Society (known as the NVS) is the place for you. It's a charity dedicated to advancing the culture, study and improvement of vegetables by offering help and advice to novice and expert show grower alike. The NVS was set up in 1960 with the aim of helping kitchen gardeners in the growing of their vegetables, so it has a long track record and expertise in the changing face of British gardening. It registered as a charity in 2001.

Their work is divided into five regions and further subdivided into district associations covering local areas. Local events are varied; often speakers are invited to lecture on growing specific vegetables, such as onions, cauliflowers, tomatoes etc or other topics of interest to gardeners and growers. The speakers are specialist experts and the lectures are of value to both the expert and the novice, so the NVS says. One of its main functions is to establish and maintain judging standards for vegetables. It holds examinations for judges and maintains a list of judges who have qualified, so that it can supply recognised Judges for a horticultural show or contest. All recommended judges will have passed the NVS Judges Examination, which means the same standards will be used from year to year, ensuring continuity and objectivity which is important to both contest organisers and contestants alike.

You can learn more, join the NVS or read some of their advice at: http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/about_national_vegetable_society.php

Prize vegetables allotment photograph author's own