Malvern-A-Show

British Camp. No, not you ducky, we’re talking Iron Age hill forts. Specifically, ‘British Camp’ the immense Iron Age hill fort in the Malverns. British Camp was once a place of safety and a store for harvests, away from marauding foes who probably weren’t inclined to grow their own. British Camp isn’t what to used to be. But, once upon a time, it physically and symbolically dominated the land we call Worcestershire. Why are we all so jazzed about British Camp? Why indeed!

If it stood today, British Camp would overlook a new haven for good people who are passionately connected to nature and the land. What is the name of that new haven? And, prithee, what goes on there now? Friends, that haven is the Three Counties Showground, home of The Malvern Autumn Show. Do we all know where this is heading? Possibly.

Yep, it’s Malvern Autumn Show time! Or rather it was when we visited – this blog isn’t live. Though this year’s event has now passed into memory it is well worth revisiting, if only to visit upon you the essential importance of your visit next year! 

As we’ve said in previous editions, Malvern really is a blue riband event in terms of horticulture, agriculture, and outdoor living. This is true on both a national and, arguably, international level. The sheer quality of growing on display, the presence and availability of great growing minds, plus the unique character of the show make it a pretty much unmissable fixture in our diaries. 

For pristine, competition-level fruit, veg, and flowers Malvern is absolutely the place to come. The Harvest Zone plays host to the finest examples of British-grown produce and delicious uses thereof! Hops, apples, and pears (careful on the stairs!) of incomparable quality are readily available as beers, perries, and ciders (careful on the stairs!). 

Such tipples are the perfect accompaniment to a tour of show benches that groan with historically significant examples of British crops. But you needn’t be thinking the mindset of Malvern is pure traditionalism. 

There are plenty of progressive ideas about at Malvern, as evidenced by the produce grown using contemporary techniques. And nowhere is the embrace of modern growing more apparent than at the CANNA UK Giant Vegetable Championships. 

If you want to rub shoulders with giant veg growers and their giant veg (some of those veg ARE big enough to have shoulders) then the CANNA Pavilion at Malvern really is the place for you. There you can see the record-breaking results made possible using today’s fertilisers, grow media, climatic controls, and watering systems. 

‘Otherworldly’ doesn’t really do justice to some of the monster vegetables that land at the show. Truthfully, many resemble captured alien lifeforms more than veg, utterly fascinating in their anatomical development and, like aliens, are a daunting prospect to use in your cooking!

No less than eight Guinness World Records tumbled at the Championship this year, including runner beans and bell peppers by the legendary Peter Glazebrook. As well as being able to see the veg at Malvern you can purloin some brilliant know-how, with many a champion grower on hand and happy to chat. Chief amongst them? Medwyn Williams!

Holding court with his customary wit and good cheer, Medwyn took a trove of his favourite, competition-proven products to Malvern – including ours truly! A full range of AutoPot Watering Systems festooned Medwyn’s display along with his favoured seeds, feeds, and media. The maestro himself merrily enlightened visitors on the principles and benefits of all these marvels, and for good measure Medwyn taught us a trick or two too! 

As a typically innovative grower Medwyn has taken to fettling our systems to suit his higher purposes. In the process he’s unlocked potential we didn’t even see ourselves. Lately he and his son Alwyn have modified Tray2Grow to produce fresh butterhead lettuce that is the toast of North Wales’ restaurants. The modification involves an elegant use of split drainpipes on the tray to accommodate lettuce seeds grown in Jiffy cells. No peat, or compost are required, you’ve got year-round, on-demand availability of crops, grown cleanly, power-free with low-maintenance watering and feeding via the Tray2Grow. Mightily impressive! As is Medwyn’s use of Rapid Roots.

Medwyn enjoyed spectacular success with Rapid Roots when starting his seeds and cuttings for last season. In the coming months he looks set to return to the 100% organic rooting gel in order to stimulate the development of a healthy, well-structured, uptake-optimised rhizospheres in his new plants. As Medwyn explains, ‘the roots are stronger, the plants are stronger…this rooting gel is the one to have’. We very much look forward to seeing the results of his next crop.

Relaxing with friends and like-minded people, absorbing ideas, tippling, nibbling, enjoying the season, and dreaming of what’s to come. That is the Malvern Autumn show right there. Will we be there next year? Indubitably! Come and join this splendid celebration in 2024!

All images copyright. Selected images copyright Malvern Autumn Show. Selected images used with kind permission of The Malvern Autumn Show.