Vegetable Rules & Regulations

[sewer rat]

Was at our local gardening Club meeting tonight and the two speakers were both seasoned show judges (one on Cut Flowers and the other on Veg) and had a great chat with them afterwards. They judge all over Scotland and are going to come back next month to talk on how best to stage floral and vegetable exhibits and impart some info on what they call "tricks of the trade" - did you know that 9 times out of 10, an NVS judge will always open the second pea pod from the left, so that's where to put the best one!! Anyway, I was chatting away and have been offered some exhibitor grade seed for onions and some pips for exhibition blanch leeks, then as a bonus the floral judge said he would send me three exhibition quality chrysanth tubers - happy days - I think that I've been bitten big time with the "Show" bug

[wellie]

Ratty, you deserve their personal attention to you, and I think that's BRILLIANT of them to do that, and to give their tips and talk. I think that will mean a huge amount to people entering The Show as well.
I got seriously disqualified and 'counted out' myself in numerous classes because I just didn't conform to their 'unpublicised' rules, and had I been aware of those rules, naturally, I would have adhered to them and won myself even more points than I did - because why wouldn't you? If you enter a show, you want to do your very best. Trousers reckons I already upset the apple cart, but I take defeat on the chin like a Good Girl.

On a lighter note:......Okay... picture this, if you will Ratty?

Completely forget 118, 118.
And I AM joking... obviously, but......

We've got Wellie and Ratty in Green Wellie Boots, and brown legs, and summer shorts, sun-kissed cheeks, and the 'New Blood' of your Local Village Show, jogging on the spot, sliding down a 13ft Sunflower stem from the Greenhouse Roof Window to go and sort out some Grape's URGENT Fruit'n'Veg Show Query in their Garden..... or should I just 'get out more' !, but don't answer that My Friend?!

Really looking forward to hearing more of your learnings and personal expertise. X

[Twinkle]

top job Wellie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

show virgin here - our local show was on Sunday and I won a first, a second and two thirds for my "five herbs" "selection of no more than five veg" "five large onions" and "five early potatoes labelled"

courgettes, carrots and jams not places, but hey - covered my entry fees and sold my cabbage and onions on leaving the hall (mugged by old ladies with cash and carrier bags !!)

One question - I lifted my onions 2 weeks in advance, laid them out in the polytunnel on a rack, but they were nowhere near dry enough to tie the necks as neatly as I'd have liked...is there a knack ? or should I have lifted them even earlier ??
TIA

[sewer rat]

top job Wellie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One question - I lifted my onions 2 weeks in advance, laid them out in the polytunnel on a rack, but they were nowhere near dry enough to tie the necks as neatly as I'd have liked...is there a knack ? or should I have lifted them even earlier ??
TIA

This is what I was told last night - lift your onions three weeks before show date, peel them back to the first completely unblemished / unbroken skin, cut back tops to about three inches, remove roots, wash and dry then leave on a towel inside or on woodchips in the greenhouse to ripen - remembering to turn them every day so they ripen evenly.
I have aslo heard it suggested that talcum powder sprinkled over the bulbs and smooted in gently assists in an even colouring of the skin.

[Paulottie]

Wellie, Rude of me not to congratulate you sooner, as I did manage to read up on this during a nightmare work /harvesting schedule before I went to France...Wanted to do my reply and your achievements justice but I'm just passing, off to Yorkshire in the morning( blimey shouldn't have thought.... the jet-set life of a humble carpenter/ allotmenteer!) so, no time to elaborate now either but will come back in on my return.

[wellie]

Twinkle, you've 'got me' there, because I'm not able to place County Clare off the top of my head if I were to stick a pin in a map of Ireland, and you're incredibly lucky to live in Ireland, anyways. Full Stop.
But then again, Trousers and I.....Wales...
Ratty.....Scotland...
the rest of them somewhere in Engerland.....!

You should be SO proud of yourself for achieving such great achievements in your local show. Beautiful....X

[wellie]

Paulottie,
No need to fret my darling.
Wellie'll be here when you return.X.

[Twinkle]

Twinkle, you've 'got me' there, because I'm not able to place County Clare off the top of my head if I were to stick a pin in a map of Ireland, and you're incredibly lucky to live in Ireland, anyways. Full Stop.
But then again, Trousers and I.....Wales...
Ratty.....Scotland...
the rest of them somewhere in Engerland.....!

You should be SO proud of yourself for achieving such great achievements in your local show. Beautiful....X

West Coast of Ireland between the "inny" bit that's Galway Bay and the "outy" bit that's the mouth of the Shannon - there lies County Clare
And yeah - it's lovely...

I love Wales too - drive through a lot of it on the way to Holyhead or Pembroke

[sewer rat]

Have just finished sorting out all the entry forms, prize cards, judges cards etc etc etc - gona go tie off my onions with the raffia now before heading to my pit for a couple of hours sleep - will be back on Sunday to let you know how it all went.

[SarzWix]

Best of luck Ratty, for the smooth running of the show and for your own entries.

[candyblue]

HOpe your show goes well Saturday, my local show is also Saturday and have been roped in to help on the committee this year. A little nervous as its only my 2nd show myself and everything is behind this year. Still hopefully my dahlias will be ok if I manage to satge them ok as I have never grown or shown them before.

[wellie]

candyblue, may we know what part of the country/world you hail from at all? and really, really good luck with your Dahlias. I've only just got into Dahlias this last year myself, so I'm sharing your passion here.X

Ratty, everone has got everything crossed for you here Down On The Funny Farm.
Please let us know SOONEST when we can all un-cross arms/legs/hooves/udders etc., for reasons, quite naturally, very obvious my darling.

[sewer rat]

Went to the tunnel tonight and have picked my Capsicums - have three good sets of two, my Jalapenos - have two good sets of 6, the last two cucumbers - they are alright but definitely not the best or biggest I've had this year, French Beans - have two good sets of 6 and one with 5 so will visit again tomorrow night or early doors on Saturday, Runner Beans - have one good set of 6 and 5 longer beans so need one more for a set of long beans but unless I'm blind I have nothing longer than 13" so might give the longest bean a miss, have two crates of beetroot outside to sort tomorrow - one of Chioggia (for the Globe beetroot class), and one of Cylindra ( for the long/intermediate beetroot class). I also picked three punnets of strawberries so have a fairly decent half punnet in the fridge but if time allows I might pick some more tomorrow and compare them to what I have already. Have two decent sets of 6 shallots and two decent sets of 3 onions from sets (250g class). Have 8 cherry tomatoes which are not too bad either.
Shirley Toms just beginning to blush, so won't be ready in time for show, I left my Cayennes on the plant as there are 5 or six which might just finish turning completely red by Saturday morning. Cabbages, caulis and broccoli will be about a fortnight late (must plant out earlier next year), my zinnias are flowering like crazy but the Chinese Asters seem to have taken a rest - about a dozen just on the point of bursting into flower but not they were like that on Tuesday. Broad Beans will be left til the morning of the show to let the beans swell a little bit more.
I also have my strawberry Jam, Raspberry Jam, Lemon Curd, Beetroot Chutney and Picallili ready to go.

[Nicos]

Good luck- will be thinking of you!!

[sewer rat]

Well, have been picking veg all day, set up the hall this evening, went to work at 10pm, home at 1.30am, been washing and preparing veg since then, now doing a bit of advertising for our sponsors then off to pick the last of my own veg then straight to the show for opening time. Will keep you posted when I catch up with my sleep !