Uncle Bernard's useful tips for showing veg

Just been to see my uncle as I heard he judges local shows.  Turns out he does a little more than that and is a good friend of Medwyn Williams MBE, the Chairman of the National Vegetable Society.

So as to check for freshness and fraud all the veg need certain features left on them.  Of course your local show might not want to be so exacting.

Tomatoes need the calyx.
Cabbages need three inches of root.
Runner beans need some stem on them.
Marrows have to be a certain size, 15" is usual and absolutely fresh.  He sticks his fingernail in to test this.
Courgettes need the flower on.

He also showed me how to grow giant carrots, parsnips and onions.  

There was more but I couldn't take it all in.

I'm not planning to show stuff this year I was just interested in gathering information.  I'll definately do so next year.