I don’t growto show but I do show some of what I grow at our garden clubs show,if that makes sense. I tend to have a look at the schedule & see if I’ve got anything growing that fits the bill. The real show growers check dates of the shows they want to enter & sow & plant accordingly it seems. We had a chap give a talk at our social meetings & they are very earnest & dediated. I honestly don’t think I’d have a family if I became that obsessed with it all. I have won a few firsts ,sometimes on things that I’ve entered thinking I’ve no chance, for instance last year 4 white potatoes, you could have knocked me down with a feather. I just happened to have harvested some & thought hmm they look the same size,good shape,no blemishes.
Not sure about this year as I’m now chair of our garden club & I’ll be busy all day with the show I think, so might struggle to exhibit, apart from preserves that just need plonking in the right area.