SUMMER PRODUCE SHOW 2014
SATURDAY AUGUST 23rd
at Willesborough Baptist Church Hall, Hythe Road
Entries 10am - 12am, Viewing 1.30pm - 4pm
Refreshments and top quality raffle
Secondhand, vintage and antiquarian gardening books
at Willesborough Baptist Church Hall, Hythe Road
Entries 10am - 12am, Viewing 1.30pm - 4pm
Refreshments and top quality raffle
Secondhand, vintage and antiquarian gardening books
This is going to be the best show we've had for years,
so that 2015 can be even better!
so that 2015 can be even better!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE PAGES SHOWING YOU THE FANTASTIC PRIZES WE HAVE FOR ENTRIES IN THE SHOW THIS YEAR
CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE SHOWING AT OUR SUMMER SHOW A FUN, RELAXING WAY TO ENJOY YOURSELF.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE SHOWING AT OUR SUMMER SHOW A FUN, RELAXING WAY TO ENJOY YOURSELF.
This year there will be desirable prizes for many classes, so your chance of winning something really worth having will be excellent. Look at the schedule and check out what you'll have ready at the right time. Don't be shy! Ashford doesn't have those fanatical growers you find north of the Thames, so your chances of winning are really good, even if you're a beginner! A few years ago, 'Best in Show' was won by someone who'd never shown before, and had only had an allotment for six months.
Lots of splendid prizes have been promised by outstanding national companies - prizes that will help you make your allotment and garden even better. Some prizes have already arrived and we can assure you they are very, very nice indeed. Nearer the time we'll be giving full details of what all of the prizes are, so keep checking this page!
Lots of splendid prizes have been promised by outstanding national companies - prizes that will help you make your allotment and garden even better. Some prizes have already arrived and we can assure you they are very, very nice indeed. Nearer the time we'll be giving full details of what all of the prizes are, so keep checking this page!
Would you like to help with the Show? People will be needed on the day to move tables, help arrange displays, and generally get everything ready. If you'd like to be one of them, then use the CONTACT form to get in touch or email [email protected]
Show Schedule 2014 - all the classes
Any family with an allotment will enjoy entering the show,
regardless of age or expertise. There is a special class for beginners!
Below is the schedule for the show, telling you what the classes are. This is the same document that was sent out in March (but this time with the date right). Use the controls at the foot of the box and down the side to zoom in and out or scroll up and down.
Show rules - scroll further down to the bottom of this page.
regardless of age or expertise. There is a special class for beginners!
Below is the schedule for the show, telling you what the classes are. This is the same document that was sent out in March (but this time with the date right). Use the controls at the foot of the box and down the side to zoom in and out or scroll up and down.
Show rules - scroll further down to the bottom of this page.
NOTE: If you would like to print out a copy of the Schedule, you may find that, because of the way the document is embedded in the website, it doesn't print well. If you email the website compiler at [email protected], we will email you a copy of the Schedule in Microsoft 'Word' which should print out nicely. PS, that's not a link there . . . you'll have to cut and paste or copy the email address.
Recently, the website provider has changed something about the way documents have converted. This has created problems with the way the show schedule displays. Please make sure you have scrolled right to the end as they have taken to inserting unexplained blank spaces in the middle after class 44! There are 55 classes in all and some explanatory notes at the end. I have spent an hour fiddling about with it and done my best, but to no avail . . .
Recently, the website provider has changed something about the way documents have converted. This has created problems with the way the show schedule displays. Please make sure you have scrolled right to the end as they have taken to inserting unexplained blank spaces in the middle after class 44! There are 55 classes in all and some explanatory notes at the end. I have spent an hour fiddling about with it and done my best, but to no avail . . .
More about showing . . .
Medwyn Williams is a legend of the vegetable showing world. For his website, with a biography and his selection of seeds for growing giant or show vegetables, click here.
The Show Handbook used by judges is freely available to buy. This is used as the basis for the judging of almost all vegetable and produce shows, including ours. Click here to see it on Amazon.
The National Vegetable Society has a page on shows - click here for it. and here is another by H. C Harrison which you might find useful.
The Show Handbook used by judges is freely available to buy. This is used as the basis for the judging of almost all vegetable and produce shows, including ours. Click here to see it on Amazon.
The National Vegetable Society has a page on shows - click here for it. and here is another by H. C Harrison which you might find useful.
ASHFORD ALLOTMENT SOCIETY SUMMER SHOW RULES
Ours is a fun show, and you won't see the kind of ferocious rivalry which some of the great Northern shows experience. These rules are similar to those you'll find at local village fetes and flower shows.
People will be there on the morning to help you sort out your exhibits and give you tips. Beginners will be shown the ropes and have things explained. Don't be nervous! It's fun.
Read the notes on the schedule carefully BEFORE YOU GATHER YOUR PRODUCE. We all make mistakes. You may need to leave stalks on fruit, for example. If you get these details wrong, you run the risk of getting disqualified, which would be a real pity.
All exhibits must be the genuine produce of the exhibitor: you must have grown the flowers, fruit or veg yourself, baked the cake, made the jam etc, yourself. If you garden with a partner, you can exhibit under either name or under both names separately.
You can exhibit produce which has some input from outside:
Three perfectly matched, but smaller, examples, score more points than one whopper and two others that don't match. Size isn't everything. Smaller, perfect stuff scores better than big, blemished produce. Veg that are too old and woody, now matter how good-looking, will not score as high as smaller, tender and perfect ones.
Judges may cut, break or otherwise check veg to make sure they are good all the way through and not just a pretty face. Cookery exhibits will of course be sampled! :)
Adults can help children with their exhibits but the child must have grown the produce (with or without help) and should be involved throughout the showing process. The idea is to get them interested, not for you to do it all for them. Children are welcome to compete in all the classes and we very much encourage them to do so.
When preparing your exhibits, you're allowed to help them look their best. You can wash them carefully, and trim off damaged leaves. You are encouraged to arrange them to look as attractive as possible. Your produce will lose points for lack of freshness, so always pick as close to the morning as possible. Sometimes, if bad weather is forecast, you may want to pick the day before - if you do so, store your produce with care to make sure it doesn't dry out.
It is usual to display fruit and veg on plates where possible. Paper plates are fine. Some enthusiasts paint them black to show the veg off better! If you are going in for one of the tray classes, you can, if you wish, cover a piece of board or a tray in fabric (usually black).
When setting your produce out on the show bench, you aren't allowed to touch anyone else's display, and no-one except the organisers are allowed to touch yours. If there is a space crisis, ask one of the organisers to make some room for you.
You must return at the end of the show to collect your produce - and your prizes! If for any reason you can't, make arrangements for someone to collect on your behalf, and TELL THE ORGANISERS IN THE MORNING, so they know to expect someone else.
. . . oh, and - the judges' decision is final. No matter what . . .
People will be there on the morning to help you sort out your exhibits and give you tips. Beginners will be shown the ropes and have things explained. Don't be nervous! It's fun.
Read the notes on the schedule carefully BEFORE YOU GATHER YOUR PRODUCE. We all make mistakes. You may need to leave stalks on fruit, for example. If you get these details wrong, you run the risk of getting disqualified, which would be a real pity.
All exhibits must be the genuine produce of the exhibitor: you must have grown the flowers, fruit or veg yourself, baked the cake, made the jam etc, yourself. If you garden with a partner, you can exhibit under either name or under both names separately.
You can exhibit produce which has some input from outside:
- you can for instance exhibit tomatoes when you have bought the tomato plants as youngsters, or cauliflowers if you bought the seedling cauliflower plants. The usual guideline is that you should have been growing the plant for 3 months before you can exhibit produce from it.
- jams or chutneys can be made from fruit etc which you have bought, but you must have made the jam or chutney yourself. Clearly, no-one grows their own oranges for marmalade . . .
- but honey must come from your own bees.
Three perfectly matched, but smaller, examples, score more points than one whopper and two others that don't match. Size isn't everything. Smaller, perfect stuff scores better than big, blemished produce. Veg that are too old and woody, now matter how good-looking, will not score as high as smaller, tender and perfect ones.
Judges may cut, break or otherwise check veg to make sure they are good all the way through and not just a pretty face. Cookery exhibits will of course be sampled! :)
Adults can help children with their exhibits but the child must have grown the produce (with or without help) and should be involved throughout the showing process. The idea is to get them interested, not for you to do it all for them. Children are welcome to compete in all the classes and we very much encourage them to do so.
When preparing your exhibits, you're allowed to help them look their best. You can wash them carefully, and trim off damaged leaves. You are encouraged to arrange them to look as attractive as possible. Your produce will lose points for lack of freshness, so always pick as close to the morning as possible. Sometimes, if bad weather is forecast, you may want to pick the day before - if you do so, store your produce with care to make sure it doesn't dry out.
It is usual to display fruit and veg on plates where possible. Paper plates are fine. Some enthusiasts paint them black to show the veg off better! If you are going in for one of the tray classes, you can, if you wish, cover a piece of board or a tray in fabric (usually black).
When setting your produce out on the show bench, you aren't allowed to touch anyone else's display, and no-one except the organisers are allowed to touch yours. If there is a space crisis, ask one of the organisers to make some room for you.
You must return at the end of the show to collect your produce - and your prizes! If for any reason you can't, make arrangements for someone to collect on your behalf, and TELL THE ORGANISERS IN THE MORNING, so they know to expect someone else.
. . . oh, and - the judges' decision is final. No matter what . . .
