What
makes a prize-winning exhibit?
Judges
will evaluate entries on the basis of cleanliness, uniformity, condition,
quality, and trueness to variety.
·
Cleanliness.
You should enter vegetables that are clean and bright in appearance. Usually you
clean vegetables by washing them, while in other cases, wiping them with a soft
cloth, or brushing them lightly with a soft brush is sufficient.
·
Uniformity. The
word “uniformity” as used in connection with vegetables in competition means
that each specimen on a plate or each vegetable within a display is of similar
size, colour, stage of maturity, shape, and condition. You should not include
extra large or small, odd-coloured or peculiarly shaped specimens, unless you
are entering a ‘strange looking vegetable’ category!
·
Condition.
Condition is important because it indicates how the crop was grown, harvested,
and handled. Vegetables should be free of dirt, cuts, bruises, and defects, as
well as insect or disease damage.
·
Quality. This
term refers to the prime eating condition of any vegetable but also indicates
the best colour development, shape, texture, and size. Select vegetables that
have a deep, clear, intense colour. Avoid dull-coloured specimens, or those that
are deep-coloured due to over-ripeness.
·
Trueness
to variety. Each
vegetable variety has its own special characteristics. Therefore, an exhibit
should consist entirely of vegetables of the same variety. For example, a plate
of four ‘Desiree’ potatoes and one ‘King Edward’, but it would not be
true to variety.
Onion
seed is traditionally sown on Boxing Day to produce fine specimens for September
shows, but remember bulbs will need to be lifted about three weeks ahead of the
show to allow skins to ripen. As a very general guide:
February
sow cabbage, cauliflower, tomato and celery seed
March
sow beetroot, carrot and parsnip seed
April
sow beetroot seed, plant onion sets and seed potatoes
May
sow sweet corn, marrow, runner bean and French bean seed.
Robinson
Seeds & Plants have kindly sent us some photographs to display on
our website
Robinson
Seeds & Plants. Vegetable
seeds and plants including the Mammoth range of exhibition vegetables. Range
extends from Artichokes and Asparagus to Squashes and Tomatoes. Many unusual and
heritage varieties.
Click on logo to visit
their website.
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