Magic In The Malverns

As Roxy Music once said, ‘Malvern this, you know there’s no-thing, Malvern this…’. Indeed, as the Malvern Autumn Show marks the culmination of many a U.K. growers’ annual efforts, it’s hard to think of a moment in the calendar that exceeds the late September jamboree for sublime skill and stunning scale. 

Every aspect of horticultural life is catered for at the Three Counties Showground. From the thundering, god-like presence of giant and specimen veg to dream-like, beautifully bred livestock. Through kaleidoscopic flower shows and deliciously lavish hospitality to the enjoyably frou-frou homestyle sections, Malvern has it all. Introducing modern, visionary growing techniques to this gloriously traditional harvest pageantry every year are CANNA. 

CANNA’s sponsorship of the Giant Vegetable Championship at Malvern draws in both the finest growers in the land and the general public in their droves. Conveying the credibility of the alternative gardening industry to the wider public is essential work that requires the presence of trusted, decorated growers. Who better for this task than long-time CANNA and AutoPot devotee Medwyn Williams, the headline act on the CANNA stand at this year’s show. Orating as only a true Welshman can, Medwyn worked the crowds into a fervour with tips and advice suitable for enhancing the fortunes of any grower. We bobbed down ourselves to experience the word of the veg-Lord.

Medwyn’s ‘thing’ has long been to bust open the mystique of veg growing, most notably in competition circles. His appearance with CANNA at Malvern is but one instance of his efforts to get new growers involved, appealing to them with intuitive, easy to use products, and methods. Rather than jealously protecting the advantages of new techniques that he has learned to exploit, Medwyn is keen to see scientifically proven nutrients, grow media, and watering systems push the envelope of horticultural possibility. 

AutoPot MD Jason Ralph-Smith joined Medwyn for the duration of the show. Whilst helping out Medwyn and soaking up the atmos’ Jason also got the Welsh champ to run the rule over one of our latest ideas for improving the lives of growers everywhere.

Tray2Grow (the dainty dish Jason set before Medwyn) will be available to UK growers in late-2022 or early 2023. The idea behind it is an ultra-versatile AQUAvalve5-irrigated tray capable of accommodating a grow bag, seed trays, coco slabs, micro herbs, pots of all sizes, or even a vast fabric planter. As versatile as Tray2Grow has proven to be, the principles of feeding and watering remain incredibly simple, power-free, and low maintenance. You can look forward to hearing much more about this in the coming months!

We’re delighted to say Medwyn has put his stamp of approval on Tray2Grow and will be stocking it as soon as it is released. It will surely be putting in an appearance at the Malvern Spring Show, and given that it can’t drive there itself (one of the few things of which Tray2Grow is incapable) we will be there too, exhibiting the full AutoPot range. 

If the Autumn Show is the thrilling denouement then the Spring Show is its counterpart, the sparkling, captivating inciting event that marks the season as ‘fully open’. What better way to get yourself excited all over again?! Follow @malvernshows for updates on show booking and @autopot_global for details of our presence there. Huge thanks to @canna.uk.official for welcoming us at Malvern and of course @_medwynsofanglesey for another inspiring show.