veg showing

[leona]

iv got my local fruit and veg show tomorrow. i have, in keeping with my usual method of doing things, left this to the last minute but how do i stage things? iv seen them on tv but never paid that much attantion. i know how the tomatos, beetroot etc has to look but not what to put them on.
any help would be great. staging is tomorrow morning so iv got today to get things. can you use paper plates?

[Paulottie]

Hello, There are two books- RHS' show handbook and WI's 'on with the show.'

In brief: be very careful as to number /size stated in shedule. Paper plates and trays are normally provided -ring show sec if in doubt. Don't over trim, scrub or skin things or bother with oiled spuds or talced onions-judges seen it all before. Prepare as much as you can tonight- as you will find it a rush tomorrow. Things should be clean and uniform. Onions, carrot tops, leek roots etc. are normally neatly tied up and trimmed. Things like beans and carrots are best wrapped in a damp towel in the fridge overnight. Don't disturb the bloom on peas plums and so on. There are often stewards and old hands who will point you in the right direction. Pay attention to the points each veg are worth before selecting for the tray.

Jams should not show factory markings on jars or lids. JUST FOLLOW THINGS TO THE LETTER. Its all a bit petty really -as you seem to get marked down on the most ludicrous things. I was never that good at reading instuctions though. but Managed to win 6/7 of the cups this year!!

GOOD LUCK

PS sometimes beetroot and onions are set on rings(cut up a cardboard tube?) or sand.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi Leona - good luck with the show!

The veg at our show were just place directly on the green cloth covered tables - although some peeps put their bean and pea enties on a piece of black cloth to make them stand out. Didn't see anything on plates except the shallots which were put on with a layer of sand to stop them falling over, and the tomatoes.

Which veg are you showing?

[Headfry]

leona, hi,
If you think it will take 2 hours to get ready add another 1 at least....time flies!
Take spare bits with you, raffia, scissors, pen, paper, bit of kitchen roll. just in case.
Make notes for next year!
but most of all...........Enjoy your day and the very best luck goes out to you.

[leona]

do i need sand for the toms then? the classes iv entered are: 5 large or novelty toms, 12 cherry toms, other fruit which im putting 12 yellow rasps in, flowers im putting pinks in, beetroot which im planning to put detroit golden but the slugs have really dont massive amounts of damage to my other beets so i may not be able to enter, going to check them today oh and iv entered bread which is the only one im happy about because iv been making bread since i was little

[Headfry]

No - not for tomatoes, sand for onions and shallots only. Tomatoes on a white paper plate is the normal way. check your beetroot entry form, does it say with or without the leaves? most are with leaves.

[leona]

with tops..does that mean all the leaves? what about if some are damaged? the slugs have decemated my cylindrica so iv only got the yellow ones unless theyv had those in the last day or 2. il go to the lotty first thing tomrrow to pick them because staging starts at 8am..

[nick the grief]

try looing on my blog in the archive section Leona there are some foto's of the local Flower & veg show and you can see there Beet's - might help.

Better still I've linked the foto below

[Headfry]

wow NTG, how did you manage to post a pic that is big enough to see!
brill

[leona]

thats with tops then? about 3 inches of top?

[nick the grief]

well I am a guru ......

[leona]

whats with the parsley? will i have less chance of doing well sans parsley?

[JennieAtkinson]

Good Luck Leona - let us know how you get on.

[Headfry]

Don't worry about the parsley, the judges will see through that! Just equally sized veg, un-blemished and clean will do the job!
Good luck Leona!

[Paulottie]

Hope it's all going well...I remember from Nick's photo that beetroot are cut by judges to see how evenly they have been grown. so- small, tender and even sized.

Parsley round toms!!!! has not made it to this part of the world yet...bit avant-garde for our lot...I'm sure they would disqualify us even for a patterned plate or a shrink wrapped green box.

Shows do vary a bit, but Just have fun and watch who, and what, wins what and you'll do fine and learn loads for next year. a great local event to support and the other place other than here that you rabbit on about veg growing with out boring peoples pants off!