Our member Peter Blakey has put together some useful tips for showing your produce in our annual allotment show.
Show judging is usually done according to the RHS Horticultural Show Handbook, which you can buy online. At Hollin Lane we have our own rules which follow the RHS ones fairly closely.
Peter has picked out the advice given by the RHS for some of the most popular vegetables in our previous shows, and included some photos of his exhibits in a recent show organised by the RHS.
| Class | Tips |
|---|---|
| French Beans | Straight, fresh pods with stalks, even length, good colour, no outward sign of seeds. |
| Runner Beans | Long, uniform, straight, good colour, with Stalks, no outward sign of seeds. |
| Globe Beetroot | 60-75 mm in diameter, taproot in place, foliage trimmed to about 75mm. |
| Cabbage | Fresh solid heads, 50mm of stalk. |
| Carrots | Fresh, no sign of side roots, foliage trimmed to about 75mm. |
| Cauliflower | Heads fresh and solid 50mm of stalk. |
| Courgettes | About 150mm long 35mm diameter. |
| Leeks | Clean, firm, long barrel. |
| Marrows | Fresh, less than 350mm long, tender. |
| Onions - over 250 grams | Large, well ripened, thin necks, intact root plates. |
| Onions - under 250 grams | Firm, thin necked, blemish free bulbs. |
| Parsnips | Long, free from side shoots, taproot intact. |
| Peas | Large, long, with stalks, well filled with tender peas. |
| Potatoes | About 175-225g, few eyes, clear-skinned. |
| Squash | Young, tender, well matched. |
| Sweet Corn | Fresh, well set including the tips, straight rows |
| Tomatoes (medium) | About 60mm diameter, ripe but firm, calyces attached. |
| Tomatoes (small) | Less than 35mm diameter, calyces attached. |
Here are some photos of Peter’s exhibits.
