[MoreWhisky]

Its our annual show tomorrow and just to make it a bit more fun for the kids i said i would enter something. Ive not grown anything to show but will enter some of the classes and need some advice please

Potatoes 4 white; Now i have only got Pink Fir Apples could i enter these? And if so any tips?

Beetroot 3; i have some beetroot what are they looking for here? and tops on or off?

Marrow1; i have a marrow anything special i need to do to this?

French Beans 6 ; i also have these but no idea how to present these.

Cucumber 1 ; i have a nobbly outside cuke that tastes lovely not sure if they up to     showing tho

Courgettes 3 ; im bound to have some of these when i got to plot green and yellow ones , are they ok to mix or should i stick to one colour ? also flowers on or off?

Sweetcorn2 ; not sure if these quite ready till i get to plot but if i do show them do i pull some of the leaves back to show the corn?



If any one can give me any advice on any these classes it would help me no end, as i said im just entering to make the day more fun but im sort of getting nervous now it getting closer lol

Cheers MW

I

[Iain@JBA]

The best white potatoes to show would be Winston,Casablanca or NVS Sherine.
The best guides that I can find are here http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/vegetable_growing_1.php
That should give you an idea of what to do.
I don't think your Pink Fir Apples would qualify for the white class.
The most important thing is to enjoy it.

[MoreWhisky]

Thanks Iain there is another potatoe class , Potatoes, 4 other than white , dont supose pfa could go in there then?

Also all the time i been on here i never new we had a 'The Show Bench' if any one cold move this thread it i would be gratefull , thanks.

[Iain@JBA]

I have never noticed the show bench sectiion
What you are looking for in potatoes is a variety with shallow eyes and a smooth skin.
You could put your PFA in for fun and see how you get on.

[Salmo]

Its our annual show tomorrow and just to make it a bit more fun for the kids i said i would enter something. Ive not grown anything to show but will enter some of the classes and need some advice please

Potatoes 4 white; Now i have only got Pink Fir Apples could i enter these? And if so any tips?
Pink is not white

Beetroot 3; i have some beetroot what are they looking for here? and tops on or off?
Evenly matched, they will cut them to see if they are woody, leave about an inch of leaf stem,the biggest do not necessarily win

Marrow1; i have a marrow anything special i need to do to this?
Does the schedule say size or beauty

French Beans 6 ; i also have these but no idea how to present these.
Evenly matched with a bit of stalk attached. just filling but not old.

Cucumber 1 ; i have a nobbly outside cuke that tastes lovely not sure if they up to     showing tho

Courgettes 3 ; im bound to have some of these when i got to plot green and yellow ones , are they ok to mix or should i stick to one colour ? also flowers on or off?
Not more than 15cms long, evenly matched, same variety, must have flowers attached - if one falls off take it with you and place it on the bench as if it has just come off, I once got away with borrowing a flower off another fruit

Sweetcorn2 ; not sure if these quite ready till i get to plot but if i do show them do i pull some of the leaves back to show the corn?



If any one can give me any advice on any these classes it would help me no end, as i said im just entering to make the day more fun but im sort of getting nervous now it getting closer lol

Cheers MW

I

[Ice]

I've magicked you over to the Show Bench.

Also, try to leave as much stem as possible on the marrow.  You can always cut it off on the day if it's not necessary.  Take your sweetcorn fully clothed and strip off on the day as necessary.   ;)The judges will test them for freshness.

[MoreWhisky]

On the marrow im sure i heard somewhere that wipe it lightly with olive oil to make it look better, is this true?

I also seem to have difference of ideas on the beetroot . Someone saus leave the leaves on and tie together 3 inches from top of beet or do i cut 1 inch from top as Salmo said?

Im off to check things over in a minute at the plot, im getting quite excited about tomorrow  

[philskin]

regarding the stalks left on the betroot and this also applies to carrots ,leave about 5"
2of stalk on them and take a pair of scissors to the show and look at the others
if they only have an inch trim them back to match ie 1 inch 3 inches

 cucumbers need to be very very straight and dark in colour mine was the biggest on the day but didnt win the winner was a lot smaller than mine but straight and green

[MoreWhisky]

One more thing about my cukes they are very dark green  but are very nobbly as they outside marketmore  how do outside and inside compare in the judging?

[philskin]

One more thing about my cukes they are very dark green  but are very nobbly as they outside marketmore  how do outside and inside compare in the judging?

  the variety i grow are burpless these are very spiky on the outside and seem to do ok ive had 1st in the past

[MoreWhisky]

Thought i would let everyone know the results i got ,

Lemmon curd    Third 
Mis Shape          Third 
Cuke                  Third   
French Bean       Second 
Uncommon Veg  (blue Hubbard) 
Marrow                FIRST 

[Ice]

Congratulations, not too shabby for a first time.  Did the kids enjoy it too?

[MoreWhisky]

Yes thanks ice we all had a good time.

And tomorrow we will be tucking into a prize winning stuffed marrow for our  tea 

[Ice]

Stuffed marrow is one thing, prize winning stuffed marrow takes it to an entirely new level.

[philskin]

well done one morewhisky but watch out it gets addictive