Hi all, I and a colleague work in a large private garden, and have been
growing organic veg for two years now for the owner.

The local village show is tomorrow, and we would like to show some of the
veg, but having never done so before, could anyone be kind enough to give
some advice on presentation?

We have:

Raspberries (exhibit is for 6)
Corgettes
Onions
Marrows
Pumpkins
Cherry Tomatoes
Runner Beans
Mange Tout

Also Dahlias

From what I remember, most of the exhibits are arranged on plates, but I
can't remember how.

Thanks for looking!

Janet

The Horticultural Exhibitors' Manual says:

"Janet & Tim Costidell" wrote in
message ...
Hi all, I and a colleague work in a large private garden, and have
been
growing organic veg for two years now for the owner.

The local village show is tomorrow, and we would like to show some of
the
veg, but having never done so before, could anyone be kind enough to
give
some advice on presentation?

We have:

Raspberries (exhibit is for 6)

Each fruit should be placed in a leaf

Corgettes

Only refers to cucumbers. They should have the flower end facing the
judges. If more than one they should be as alike as twins.

Onions

Sit them on small rings (cut them from a roll of cardboard or similar)
or

Fill a suitable basket with moss to a pinacle and arrange the onions so
that they are on a gradient.

Each should be of the same size and shape.


Marrows

As for cucumbers

Pumpkins

No mention

Cherry Tomatoes

Only mentions tomatoes.

Pick at the first joint with the green sepals attached to the fruit. Do
not disturb the sheen. Display on a white plate with stalks upwards.
Must be of uniform size.

Runner Beans

Cut with an inch of stem attached. Must be as long as possible provided
all are of uniform length, must be fresh and straight with no signs of
seeds showing in the pods and no trace of stringiness.

Display on a white background.

Mange Tout

No mention

Also Dahlias

Place in vases which contain water and hold in position with moss or
wire.

PS Clearly identify your exhibit for benefit of the public, providing
the rules allow this.

This book (mine) was published in 1952. Best of luck.

An Internet guide:

http://muextension.missouri.edu/expl...ort/g06230.htm

Regards,
Emrys Davies.



From what I remember, most of the exhibits are arranged on plates, but
I
can't remember how.

Thanks for looking!

Janet

Brilliant, thanks! I'll post with the results of the show!!!

An Internet guide:

http://muextension.missouri.edu/expl...ort/g06230.htm

" Emrys Davies" wrote in message
...
The Horticultural Exhibitors' Manual says:

I agree with all Emrys said about the fruit and veg
Except....

Runner Beans
Cut with an inch of stem attached. Must be as long as possible provided
all are of uniform length, must be fresh and straight with no signs of
seeds showing in the pods and no trace of stringiness.

Display on a white background.

All Runner beans I've seen have been on a black background,
which was what I did at our local show on Saturday,
and so were all the opposition, (I could have exhibited on the Turin Shroud,
I still wouldn't have won.:-)).

Anthony

Thanks Anthony, I think we've scuppered the runner beans anyway. We didn't
know about the inch of stem bit before we cut them! Never mind, it's only
for fun (although from what I've heard, not everyone thinks so)!!!

All Runner beans I've seen have been on a black background,
which was what I did at our local show on Saturday,
and so were all the opposition, (I could have exhibited on the Turin
Shroud,
I still wouldn't have won.:-)).

Anthony

If you are serious about exhibiting I would advise you to get this RHS
publication
RHS Show Handbook
This essential reference is the official RHS guide to organising, judging
and competing in horticultural or gardening shows where fruit, vegetables
and flowers are exhibited.
Paperback 160pp. ISBN 1874431981

Price £7.95

As for an inch of stem on Runner beans,,,,,,,,,,,,,********** the
normal sprig that comes with picking is all that is required.


--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

Thanks for the help everyone, we had a great day!

We got a first for the eating apples and dahlias, second for the peas,
cabbage, cucumber, corgettes, most amusing veg (!), large onions and small
onions, and third for the shallots. No prize for the tomatoes. All in all,
successful and we jointly won the overall cup with another local. (We'll
beat him next year....!)

Cheers!

Janet

Congratulations. That was a very good start and now that you have whet
your appetite, who knows.
Those Chelsea wizards started somewhere.

Thanks for letting us know.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.




"Janet & Tim Costidell" wrote in
message ...
Thanks Anthony, I think we've scuppered the runner beans anyway. We
didn't
know about the inch of stem bit before we cut them! Never mind, it's
only
for fun (although from what I've heard, not everyone thinks so)!!!

All Runner beans I've seen have been on a black background,
which was what I did at our local show on Saturday,
and so were all the opposition, (I could have exhibited on the Turin
Shroud,
I still wouldn't have won.:-)).

Anthony

"Janet & Tim Costidell" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the help everyone, we had a great day!

We got a first for the eating apples and dahlias, second for the peas,
cabbage, cucumber, corgettes, most amusing veg (!), large onions and small
onions, and third for the shallots. No prize for the tomatoes. All in
all,
successful and we jointly won the overall cup with another local. (We'll
beat him next year....!)

One might be excused for saying "Beginner's Luck" {:-))

More seriously: Congratulations. May you succeed in your aim for next
year.

Franz

The message
from "Janet & Tim Costidell"
contains these words:

Thanks Anthony, I think we've scuppered the runner beans anyway. We didn't
know about the inch of stem bit before we cut them! Never mind, it's only
for fun (although from what I've heard, not everyone thinks so)!!!

Exhibiting is a serious business and the secrets of the "pro`s" in this
field are closly guarded!!!!!!

I prefer to eat em personally. Who gives a hoot what the veggies look
like just as long as they taste good.

--
email farmer chris on
Please don`t use as it`s a spam haven.

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 15:31:07 +0100, Christopher Norton wrote:

...Who gives a hoot what the veggies look
like just as long as they taste good.

I used to do a certain amount of general horticultural judging.
Participants in the peculiar sport of horticultural exhibiting
know that it is customary for the judges to open pea pods and
taste a few, and to slice open cucumbers to see if they are
seedy.

One time I shocked the assembly of judges and clerks by cutting
off a slice of the first-rank cucumbers and eating it. It took a
little bit of persuasion to convince my fellow veggie judge to
follow suit, but when she did, we agreed that the best-looking
cuke didn't taste very good, and switched our intended first and
second prize awards around so the best-tasting of the two got
first.

(The rest of the cukes were too dire looking to make first or
second.)


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada