National Vegetable Society

"Advancing the culture, study and improvement of vegetables"

About the National Vegetable Society

The National Vegetable Society was formed on 26th February 1960 with the aim of helping kitchen gardeners in the growing of their vegetables. The society registered as a charity in 2001 and is now the premier organisation for vegetable growers in the UK.

The society is currently organised into five regional branches, each covering its own area of the country. Associated with these branches are local District Associations, also known as DAs, who hold local meetings, usually monthly, to talk about growing vegetables.

Often speakers are arranged to lecture on growing specific vegetables, such as onions, cauliflowers, tomatoes etc and 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 vegetable grower. See Lecturers

The National Vegetable Society sets judging standards for vegetables. We hold examinations for judges and maintain a list of judges who have qualified.

The NVS can supply recognised Judges for an affiliated Society's Annual Show. All recommended judges will have passed the NVS Judges Examination.

Key Benefits of NVS Judging

  • Consistency of judging by recognised standards
  • The NVS Medals presented at your show are worth winning
  • Individual pride if your presentation is successful

National Vegetable Society Branches

Southern Branch - South of a line from the Bristol Channel across to Harwich.

Midlands Branch - Gloucestershire and North to a line from the Wash to the Welsh Border

Northern Branch - takes over from the Midlands to the Scottish Border.

Scotland and Wales each have their own Branch

The District Associations are listed here

Objectives of the Society

  • To advance the culture, study and improvement of vegetables.
  • To advance knowledge of and foster public interest in such plants by the publication of information, by exhibiting, by stimulating research and experiment and by awarding prizes open to public competition.
  • To maintain trial grounds, horticultural gardens and facilities for giving advice on the culture of vegetables.
  • To organise a Panel of Lecturers on vegetable growing.
  • To organise a Panel of Judges by holding Judges Examinations in each Branch as and when necessary.
  • To organise visits to places of interest in connection with the study of vegetables, to co-operate with other bodies having similar or sympathetic aims and generally to do all such acts as shall further the active and corporate life of the Society, and may lawfully be done by a body established only for the purpose recognised by the law as charitable.
  • To maintain a library of knowledgeable books and photographic slides on the cultivation and exhibition of vegetables made available to all members and Affiliated Societies at a nominal charge.
  • To form District Associations as necessary in order that members may localise their activities in addition to those provided by the Society.

The constitution of the society is available to download here


Web NVS Site