Vegetable Rules & Regulations

[SarzWix]

Yeah, I prefer strawberry too... It all depends who's judging I guess. But if it's a WI bod., they'll be going by their rules.
I struggled with the 'Shrewsbury Biscuits' class last year, I had no idea how many different recipes there are for them. No-one seems to agree what they should be like. It's fair to say that the judges didn't agree with the version I went for

[Paulottie]

Ha...just found a card from one year saying 'should have a raspberry fill and could have a light sprinkling of castor only'...only achieved a second that year!

[Lovage]

I enjoy going to local shows and I agree they need some fresh blood or they will die out.
Many times I have contemplated entering something for a local show but I am really put off by the one or two 'professional' exhibitors who seem to enter every show with their yard long carrots, parsnips and leeks. They are retired and spend all day looking after them, I grow for eating and just cannot compete.

What classes would people suggest as being possible to enter with unpampered veg and stand some chance of being placed?
Is there a case for some new classes? or judging more on quality than superficial appearance?
Some local shows have started a schools class with the new interest in school gardens, but sadly only one school enters.
What does it need to get more people involved?

[SarzWix]

I think all shows should have classes for either 'new gardeners' or 'never been placed in a show before', and once you've won or been placed in those classes, you have to compete with the 'big guns'.
I entered veg. into our show one year - tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and I won't bother again for a few years... We have around 5 locals who enter 'big shows' with their veggies (Harrogate, Southport etc), and a few 'professionals' who come from nearby towns because we have cash prizes, and between them they sweep up everything in the veg and flowers classes. There's no room for amateurs at all except as a bit of fun. However the home/baking classes are wide open, so that's where most of my effort goes

[Paulottie]

We used to have that problem and they made a rule that if you won a cup two years running you could not win again for two years.

[SarzWix]

That's not a bad idea, although, I'm not sure it would work in this case because it isn't always the same person that wins, it's one out of five! Aah well, they can't live forever can they?

[wellie]

I'm in total agreement. I entered a local show two years running, and had the decency to retire on the third, on the strength of the fact I'd earned my Cups'n'Trophies Fair'n'Square, and it was someone else's turn to triumph after that. It was only a beautiful local proper village show, and we enjoyed taking part SO much the first time, that we wanted to take part again the second year, for the cameraderie and friends we made that day. The friends we made are still friends today, even though we've moved away a tad, which proves my point I think.

The other show I entered the following year was full of Big Boys, and Trousers and I both agreed that it didn't hold the same 'charm', and we didn't enjoy taking part as much, so we didn't again. Simples.

[Paulottie]

Goodness Wellie....Just been looking at your blog..What a booooootiful place you have....no time to read much now..gravy on stove. Rhubarb crumble in the oven...YES FROM OUR PATCH AND UNFORCED...shovelled 50 barrows of mushroom muck down to the lottie...crackered....will have a good nosey later.

So we don't go off topic...the Viccy sponge Mrs P says you should first turn it on a towel and then back the other way on the rack so you don't get pattern on the top...can be marked down for that.

[wellie]

See Wellie copy Mrs. P's T-Towel trick into Vicky Sponge Class File..... and cross out 'not-quite-set' Strawberry Jam in favour of homemade RASPBERRY JAM... DOH!?

This could end up being quite a large file, but if I end up being pretty damn averagely brilliant at making a Viccy Sponge for our local show this year, I shall be over the moon....and Trousers would be even happier than that, if I were to practice religiously every week beforehand, obviously.....!

[wellie]

Okay....when I got back home today, mentally, I put some quality time into preparing for our local village show, and I've got some serious questions building up in my brain now?!

So... if I could possibly ask a few questions of you Show Gurus now, I could at least empty my brain temporarily, and re-fill it later with some new questions later!

And please, please, don't trouble yourself that my brain is just full of 'SHOW'.
(Anyone that remotely knows me will confirm that there's a veritable 'feast' of thoughts just boinging around in there all of the time anyway!)

So - my question for now is this:
In the Cookery & Preserves Section, when the class calls for a 1lb. pot of jam or marmalade, I totally understand that. But when the class says 'A JAR' of Jelly or Chutney, and doesn't specify a size/weight....
WOT? Do they want the same-sized pot? Do they want a Le Parfait, or a Kilner?

And in the Veg & Fruit Section: Is a Kohl Rabi classed as a Turnip, or not?

If there's no specific class for Tomatoes, could a Tomato get smuggled into 'A Collection of Three Soft Fruits'?

For the 'Collection of Vegetables for Cooking' Section, what veg earn maximum points in the Judges' eyes?

If I were to use a black backcloth, what's the maximum size I would be allowed on the showbench?

OR SHOULD I JUST GOT TO SPECSAVERS?!X

[sewer rat]

Hi Wellie
Hope this helps a bit to ease the congestion in your cranium

1. Cookery and Preserves - if the size of jar is not specified, this is usually taken as meaning you can enter the preserve in whatever container you wish.

2. Kohl Rabi is not, and cannot be entered as a turnip. If you wish to enter Kohl Rabi, this is usually in the section for "any other vegetable not listed above".

3. Tomatoes could in theory be enetered into the soft fruits category but I have serious doubts that you would get away with it in real life

4. The veg that tend to earn most points are those that have individual classes - carrots, leeks, potatoes and onions are definites.

5. Collection of veg for cooking - don't know if this is the same as the top tray competition - if so, all the veg must fit in a tray that is 18" x 24". Use of a black backcloth is usually allowed unless stated elsewhere in the show rules. Generally though, you are not allowed rings, holes in the tray or sand to sit the onions on, if you use them in this category.

[sewer rat]

We used to have that problem and they made a rule that if you won a cup two years running you could not win again for two years.

I think that this is quite a common rule, especially in the smaller shows where there may only be one grower in the area who actually grows purely for competition. I know there is one guy up here who grows for competition and he wins most cups. He is not barred from entering or gaining points, but he wouldn't get the trophy after two consecutive wins.

[Paulottie]

Jars normally Lb...jellies can be 1/2 pound.

Never entered a kohl rabi..as Rat says 'any other veg' if you must....worth a max 12 points

You'll be doing well if you have five (you'll need to have a number from show sec.) med sized tomatoes by June..a miricle for three beefsteak unless you have been lavishly heating your greenhouse....Again any other veg which you'd win ...forget the radishy things. softfruit! Judges have no (or a V. arid) sense of humour... get in that show mindset Wellie...don't try to be a smartarse ...they just disqualify you.

20 pointers are carrots, caulis, celery,leeks,onions, parsnips, potatoes
18 pointers are runner beans, frame cukes (maybe ridge too?), Toms.

They will always tell you the size of tray or cloth in schedule

[wellie]

Mmmm.... digesting all of that now whilst I eat my dinner?
Smartie-Pants is NOT what I'm intent on being, but Cute Cookie to earn valuable points 'here there and everywhere' I am up for 100 percent! (See the grin on Wellie's face right now, because she's just LOVING taking part....even at THIS early stage of the competition)
I only mentioned Kohl Rabi because there were a number of Entrants for it in last years' show, and, because there wasn't a category I remembered for it specifically, I presumed they'd allowed it under '3 Turnips'. But obviously, I'm mistaken.

Anyhow, I will chew on this, and be back to you later.....
I can't thank you enough (so far) for your support and help.X

[wellie]

Okay... I'm getting the 'Most Points Veg' vibe now, in terms of most points is won via very safe veg with no imagination, just skill for a quality product?
No unusual stuff. No mushrooms, snakes of sicily, romanesco or tomatoes then?! (I'm jesting on the Snakes of Sicily and Romanesco, but was hoping for a sneaky handful of button mushies or early tommies on the vine?) Seriously, but if you think that's cocky, and wouldn't earn judge's points, Trousers and I will just eat them instead.

(Incidentally, I'm not being funny or nothing, but our Puter Tower is making the most horrid noise tonight? I suspect I'm going to have to get our Henry Hoover onto it tomorrow.... so do be patient with my replies over the next few days, just in case we lose you).

And thank you for clarity on the Jar front. I've taken that on board, and my Damson Gin Chutney will now very nicely fit into that category.
Did I ask you about whether one could have 'bits' suspended in one's Fruit Jelly or not?
Only I've got this simply amazing jewel-like jelly (I can divulge its identity to Paulottie & SR) that I think warrants entering, because I think it's amazing.