First show of 2017

A top grower (well he always insisted he was a top grower) was once quite sniffy about competing in local shows, implying that it was beneath him now that he was winning at NVS Branch shows with his cabbages and cucumbers. Not me. I still get a big buzz out of winning a ticket at my local show and it was with some sadness that I entered my veg on Saturday morning for the last time. I know the organisers have been a little bit worried about the effect my giving up showing will have on the show as I have supported it with multiple entries since my first show here in 2001, but there were a few new exhibitors putting in some reasonable quality stuff so I sincerely hope the show will continue to thrive. These shows are the breeding grounds for anyone with aspirations to go onto bigger things but should always be supported as much as possible. And besides I said I’d still try and support them with some baking in future years. However, they told me not to threaten them with that shit. As it was I walked off with the coveted Society Cup for most points, and my name will now be etched on the side of it for a record extending 14^th time in 17 years. I’m rather stupidly proud of that.

As I said in the previous post I was particularly pleased with my winning long carrots which were quite a small set compared to many more I appear to have growing. If they carry their weight down like these I’m going to be in a position to compete at the bigger shows to come. One slight concern on a single carrot I pulled for another class was what appeared to be cavity spot which is said not to affect long carrots as much as stumps. I actually used the infected sand from my cavity spot infected stump beds to fill extra carrot drums thinking things would be fine so we shall have to see if this is going to be a major problem for me over the next few weeks.

My stump carrots were almost embarrassing to me. Yes, they won, but if I’d put this set in a National Veg show I’d have been soundly beaten with a sharpened swede, they really were utter wank. I’ll be pulling my stumps for the Welsh Branch Championships tomorrow night and if they’re anything remotely like this they’re going to feed my grandson’s rabbit.

Being a local show you can put more than one entry in a class so over the years in an effort to support the show I have often made multiple entries, whilst being wary of not wanting to do too much and put people off. It’s a fine line but sometimes it’s best to just put one in if you know you’re probably going to win it so that someone else can experience the thrill of getting a ticket. One class I did pull a few entries in was the any other veg class, and my rhubarb was a worthy winner beating my marrows into 2^nd and my turnips into 3^rd. Other exhibitors’ entries in the class included kale, radish, chard, squash and a very large pair of caulis that were unfortunately badly discoloured and well past their best.

I had 1^st and 2^nd in the tomato class but was surprised my 2^nd place entry didn’t actually win. What do you think?

The small fruited tomato class at any show is always well contested and I was pleased to win with a set of Strillo, although I had to cut over 50 to find a set of 10 that weren’t split. Fair to say I shan’t be growing Strillo ever again.

I won the globe beet class with a nice set of 3 that I thought I’d made a fatal mistake with when I was prepping them. I cut the foliage as if I was prepping them for a National show when I suddenly clapped my hands over my face as I realised our show asks for them to be shown ‘with foliage’. Calming down I noticed that I had cut them long at first and therefore there was some new middle foliage still visible so technically I couldn’t be NAS’d and so it proved as far as the judge was concerned.

And the little fuchsia ‘Auntie Jinks’ that I’d been nurturing all Spring & Summer won me another 1^st place. Triffic.

As I said earlier, I’m now turning my thoughts to the Welsh Branch of the NVS Branch Championships in Carmarthen this coming weekend, assuming we’re not going to get nuked by North Korea and America before then, and I emailed my entry form off yesterday morning. Saves the cost of a stamp and doesn’t risk those spanners at Royal Mail losing it in transit. I have entered the rather grandly named National Tap Root Championships of Great Britain but it does all depend on how my long beet pull tonight. I’m having to pull them so long before the show as the daylight hours are getting much less in the evenings by the time those of us who work for a living manage to get home. It’ll be carrots tomorrow night and parsnips on Thursday as we’re travelling down on Friday evening so everything needs to be up and prepped in good time. I’ve entered 9 classes in all plus a couple of back-ups, long carrots and parsnips if the long beet doesn’t cut the mustard, but I shan’t bother with those if they’re adequate for the tap root collection. There is also another collection class for 3 sets of veg with a points value of 18 or less, so I’ll hopefully be going for tomatoes, runner beans and stump carrots, but this is usually a highly contested class so each veg will have to be tip top.

And finally I was in bed the other night pulling off my boxers when the wife walked in on me. “Please don’t do that to the dogs!” she said.

Sutton Bonington Show 2011

This is my local show and the one I'm most involved with being on the committee and arranging the programme of talks each year, so I like to put in plenty of entries across the range of categories. And believe it or not at 5a.m. yesterday I was to be found in the kitchen cooking! I was determined to get a ticket in the 'men only' rock cakes class, after 11 years of complete an utter failure...not even a third. This year I was armed with a surefire recipe from Ian Simpson and Fiona Shenfield of Scottishland. However, my first attempt went something like this!

Not to be defeated I quickly knocked up another mix and didn't leave them in the oven quite so long this time. The result was a lot better, but I still didn't win anything yet again!. So it appears not only do the Scots send me 2nd rate peas they also send me duff recipes too! To be fair the judge was wavering between mine and another plate for the third place ticket so I really must have been 4th which is as near as I've ever got. There's always next year!

As I say, I put a shedload of entries in each year and my car is absolutely packed to the gunnels, even the passenger seat is loaded with my flower exhibits. I have various contraptions for making sure they are secure for the trip but it's still a very slow journey as I try to ensure none of my dahlias snap during transit.

As for the show I got 21 red cards, mainly in the veg classes, but I also picked up bonus wins with dahlias and cacti. For the 10th time I won most points in show and this year it was television's Midlands Today presenter Dominic Heale who did the honours with the prizegiving. Thoroughly bloody nice chap.

I got best veg for my long carrots which was a very nice change after a few iffy years and I've got plenty of equally good, if not better ones to come. I reckon I may put this one down to seed. And no....before any other tits apart from Unsworth ask those are not my footprints on the fridge!

As usual Leesa managed to construct a superb trug for me. Thankyou my dearest! We even managed to fool the judge by using one of the leeks that had gone to seed and was actually oval in profile section.

This year was the 25th Show and it's a big country fair these days attracting thousands of visitors, so there's plenty to see and do, including the dodgems at which I was particularly skilful and wily. My neck should recover by the end of the week I'm told. Bloody kids came from nowhere!

Sutton Bonington Show 2010

A busy weekend. This is the show I'm most involved with being on the committee, and the one i've been most successful at over the years. It's also a large country show, the horticultural marquee being only a small part of the whole thing, which attracts some 4000 visitors the first Sunday in September each year. A true British tradition.

Yesterday morning and the exhibits start to arrive. My car was absolutely packed to the gunnels and I had to make a couple of trips back to Loughborough.

Inside the marquee there are classes for everyone to have a go at. We had 750+ entries although the veg was slightly down on numbers this year.

I keep the wraps on my carrots, potatoes and beetroot until the last possible moment. At this show I actually act as steward for the veg judges and I'd strongly recommend you do this if you ever get the chance. Following them round you pick up all sorts of tips and pointers as to what they're looking for.

Meanwhile, outside a couple of my fellow committee members are overseeing the hugely important kids' paper plane competition.

As for my performance this year, I got 11 red cards, 11 seconds and 6 thirds which is actually my worst ever result here. I got 1-2-3 in the onions under 1.5lbs.....

.....1st and second in shallots.....

.....and first with the leeks. These were closely pipped for best veg by John Barton's superb parsnips. I think a little pest damage on the leaves went against me.

I got a 1st with my long carrots. These were actually saved from Leicester last week......

......as were my 2nd and 3rd placed stump rooted carrots. The stumps that beat me were absolutely humungous.

I won both potato classes, winning the coloured class with these Blue Belle. I shall definitely be growing this variety again and giving them plenty of TLC.

It's been a few years since I've won with french beans, but I followed up 2nd place at Leicester last week with 1st and 2nd here.

I'm on a roll with Cederico tomatoes. These were all taken from the bottom two trusses and I have some real crackers to come once they ripen. I think I should definitely have a set for Malvern.

The mexican mouse melons caused a lot of interest, and as at Leicester last week we had to put a label on them to stop people coming to the hort. soc. bench and asking what they were.

Lots of big marrows and pumpkins this year, but I saved Ester to grow for another week. She should make her bow at Seagrave on Saturday. If she carries on growing at the pace she is now, I reckon she could outweigh Heidi from last year.

Leesa demanded a mention for her expertise in arranging my winning trug. Brilliantly done as always darling......but she does of course require top quality veg grown to perfection by a master of his art!!!

So for the 9th time in 10 years I won most points in show and collected the trophy from the Mayor of Rushcliffe.

And if I can just give myself a pat on the back, I've been inundated with texts and emails the last few days from several of my show growing pals thanking me for advice given over the last few years as they all won prizes at their own shows. The next best thing after winning yourself is providing winning advice to your pals, so well done to (amongst others) Paul Wlodarczak in Cumbria (cracking parsnips mate), Rob in Solihull, Craig in Ibstock and Paul Bastow and Dan Unsworth at their mutual gay Yorkshire love-in.

http://paulsallotmentblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/dan-cleans-up-at-ingleton.html

Well done one and all.

First leek showing

It's my 'local' show at Sutton Bonington tomorrow and I've just finished preparing my 40 or so entries including these blanch leeks. Considering that I have virtually given these no attention whatsoever, save watering and collaring, I'm very pleased with these 'Pendle Improved'. I wonder what I could do if I tried!

Next season I really must get my beds covered over with polythene sheeting and enviromesh sides in order to keep leek moth and rust at bay. I had to strip back a couple of split flags on each barrel, and the roots had the hosepipe spraying inside them for several minutes to get every last speck of soil. A trim to make them level is the last touch, along with snipping off any dried ends on the flags. If i'm honest these are a bit on the tapered side, heavier at the bottom but certainly not bulbous.

At Leicester last weekend I unexpectedly won with these 3 long carrots and will be showing two of these in the long carrot class tomorrow, having wrapped them in paper towelling and stored them in the fridge all week. I usually like to pull fresh roots for each show, but a lack of good carrots has forced my hand this week.

I say I won unexpectedly, because when staging I was aware of a couple of sets of heavy carrots on the bench, but as they were wrapped up I couldn't tell how good they were. During the public viewing it was clear mine were a cleaner, more uniform set and it was good to see the judges aren't always blinded by size. Mine are in the foreground.

It was also the NVS National Championships in Dundee today and Dave Thornton text me earlier to say he had won the long carrots. If he's beaten the likes of Graeme Watson he must have had awesome roots. I hope he pulled all his good ones and doesn't have any more for our little wager later this month, starting at Malvern. My life will be a misery from now on. The big headed git won't let me forget this.

Parsnip canker

Pinnacle is supposed to be one of the more canker resistant parsnip varieties but I’ve had it with a vengeance this season. Virtually every root I’ve pulled up has had it to some extent although I have managed to clean a lot of it off with the rough side of a scouring pad if it hasn’t gone too deep. According to Dave Thornton of the NVS it starts as yellow spots on the leaves and then the spores get washed into the growing medium and hence works its way into the root from the crown downwards. The only surefire way to combat it is to grow them under cover so it looks as if I shall have to erect some form of enviromesh barrier in time for next season. Some people suggest that it can be carried on the actual seed casing so I must try and soak them in a fungicide next season also.

I’ve won at Leicester, Seagrave, Sutton Bonington and Sileby but could never have considered showing them at a higher level as I could have last season. Perhaps I just got lucky last season, but I had toyed with the thought of showing parsnips at NVS Branch level this season. Maybe next year?"



My winning set at Sileby.....





...and Seagrave.

Courgette Blyton Yellow?

You remember the Blyton Belle seeds that appeared to be giving me yellow marrows?

Well they only got to grapefruit size and then grew no more so I cut two small ones and entered them at Sutton Bonington last week in the class for two courgettes. They duly won, and I also got 2nd with two regular green courgettes.

More tattie success

I won both spud classes at Sutton Bonington and along with 3 wins at Leicester and a second at both Seagrave and Hathern I'm happy that I've got back on track with my potatoes this season after two wilderness years. There's some discussion on the NVS website about alternatives to growing in bags of peat but the truth is this season is that I grew them in ordinary compost. I didn't even sieve out all the lumps that you inevitably get in the bags and yet I've had my cleanest tubers ever, so it just goes to show you! I merely put a handful of Vitax Q4 and calcified seaweed into the bottom 2 inches of each bag.

These are the variety Winston which one me the white class.




This is Kestrel which won me the coloured class. They're showing a few blemishes after being out on the bench for 36 hours. For good measure I also came 2nd with Maxine and 3rd with Pixie.


ly

'Heidi' stops the show! ***262lbs!!!

I got another 26 red cards at Seagrave and Sutton Bonington over the weekend. Full reports to follow but I just needed to get my show stopping pumpkin on here as soon as possible. It was stopping folk in their tracks and people were having their photos taken with it. It took 4 of us to move it so I don't think I'll be growing another in a hurry....but it has certainly been a fun experience.

***STOP PRESS......weighed her tonight.....119kgs or 261.8lbs. I'm claiming an allcomers record for Loughborough! Unless of course.....anyone knows better?!?

First red cards of the season!

Today was the Sutton Bonington Spring Show and I was able to win the class for a vase of 5 yellow daffs. I think I've won this for about the last 5 years actually. The variey is St.Keverne which always seems to be in perfect bloom at around this time. I also won the class for a bunch of grape hyacinths and for a single cactus or succulent.

I'm not sure my daffs were necessarily the best but I always try and make sure they are presented nicely, packing the vase with moss to keep the blooms evenly spaced apart. Other exhibitors tend to just plonk the daffs in a vase and let them flop about, but I once exhibited at a regional daff show so I know a bit about presentation.

However, ours is a fun show and everyone gets to vote for their favourite so it's nothing too serious.....just a way of raising a few funds for the society coffers.

Top Tray successes

I’ve won 4 out of the 6 ‘Top Tray’s’ that I’ve entered this season and one of the reasons is that I’ve been able to exhibit some bigger onions because of a relaxation in one of the rules around here. It used to be that onion rings/supports/stands were not allowed to be used which meant that people were reluctant to show their onions in this class as they were prone to rolling about on the board and therefore getting damaged…..especially if the benches weren’t level. However, on both the show committees I’m involved with we have allowed small, discrete supports to be utilised which meant I could display these onions at Sutton Bonington without fear them coming to any harm.

I staged these same onions at Littleover last week with carrots and tomatoes and a woman came up to me and said she thought they were stunning. She really needs to get out more!

Week old carrots win again.

At last week's Littleover show I did something I don't normally do, which is I exhibited these winning Sweet Candle stumpers that won best in show at Sutton Bonington the week before. In the past I've pretty much always pulled new carrots and parsnips for each show but these were just so good I decided to see if I could store them as I was running short on carrots. I wrapped each one in dry kitchen towel and then wrapped them in cloth towels and stored them in a fridge.

Come the following Saturday they won the carrot class at Littleover also and hadn't lost too much of their previous good condition. Unfortunately, our camera didn't have a battery in so I couldn't take a photo but it's certainly something I shall be doing in future if I have a particularly good set.

Any other veg

I've grown a few peas this season of the variety Dorian, and it's picked me up a couple of wins in the any other veg classes, as well as some other place cards. It's notoriously difficult to grow peas to show in late August and September because of mildew attack but I managed to get these 7 pods (the class wording is 'any other veg, minimum of two) at Sutton Bonington. Peas are one of the 20 point veg and so are worth growing if you can avoid mildew as they always seem to beat other crops such as sweetcorn, squashes, turnips etc.

To get peas on the showbench you need to sow them about 90 days before the show (varies with variety) and pick off any flowers up to 3 weeks before the show. Growing so late also means you tend not to be bothered by pea moth but when you pick them hold them up to the light to make sure there is nothing squidgy lurking inside and that the actual peas are fully formed. Only handle them by the stalks in order to retain the natural 'bloom' on the pods and transport on trays of moist tissue paper to the show.

I noticed that the judges haven't been opening any this season so I wonder if there is a new rule that advises against this, because it always used to be the case that one was 'popped' to see the peas inside.

Spuds bashed

This 3rd place at Sutton Bonington has been my only card with potatoes this season. The variety was Malin and these were the only 4 decent sized tubers I managed to salvage from about 50 bags this season.

I got talking to a great spud grower at Littleover who reckoned that I may have made my peat too alkaline when I sterilised the bags with Armillatox. I did this to try and kill any blight spores that may have overwintered after last year's attack. In any case he said you need to get fresh peat in every 3 years or so and mine is now about 4 years old so I've spread it over the flower borders and will be buying new stuff over the winter and sieving it as I go.

He also uses calcified seaweed and Vitax Q4 in his bags......about 4 oz of each per bag!!!!!

Sutton Bonington 2008

The show was almost cancelled as the rain fell and no-one knew whether the field would survive the traffic of the exhibitors’ vehicles but everyone decided to press on with some Dunkirk spirit! I thought I was being ambitious with 45 entries but a fellow competitor Polly Gibb put in over 70 and duly walked away with the Society Cup for most points in show. Whilst I won 16 ‘red cards’, more than most years, she managed many more 2nd’s and 3rd’s than me and deserved to win the cup. However, my Sweet Candle stumpers certainly impressed the judges to win Best Veg in Show and I also won Best Dahlias with a vase of Kenora Sunset that didn’t look too brilliant the night before but opened out quite a lot in the warmth of my living room !

Happily, the actual day of the Show (Sunday….staging was Saturday) wasn’t too bad weather wise and over 2000 people visited.