In about three weeks’ time it is the village Horticultural Society’s annual show. It’s a chance for all growers of fruit and veg, makers of chutneys and jams, brewers of various alcoholic beverages and flower arrangers, among others, to show what they can do and of course, to beat their neighbours and friends!
Both Hilary and Nick who have allotments are on the committee so the pressure is on to put in an entry or two. I have looked at the programme and am quite keen to give it a go (and I have been known to arrange the odd flower in my well-spent youth!) but I am concerned that anything on our allotment that might be worth entering in the show is ready now. If they could bring the date forward a few weeks it would help enormously. The last show the society put on was the Rose and Sweet Pea Show and my timing was out then – my first sweet pea flowered the day after. Now look at them! If they are still flowering I might try and get a second shot by putting them in the ‘floral art section’ perhaps.
Our main crop potatoes might stand a chance as the foliage is still looking really green and healthy but Nick has advised that I take any good specimens and store them in peat ready for the show. I keep forgetting to buy peat and I keep cooking the potatoes, so other than our Edzell Blues which might deserve a place on novelty value, that category is out. The carrots have been eaten by the badgers, there won’t be any peas or mange tout by then and when you look at the size of our onions compared to Nick’s we don’t have a chance!
However, imagining what the future might look like, the Cos lettuces are still in their early stages and might be ready for entry number 15 “Lettuce, two. See hints on page 5 for staging” and our tomatoes which are still green should be nice and red and ripe by then for number 12: “Tomatoes dish of five, one kind any variety”. If all our veg fail to be of optimum quality on the day, you know I think I might go for either entry number 33: “Penstemon, three stems,” because they’ve been looking good in the garden for ages, or number 53: “Sloe gin” because there’s still some left from our ‘vintage’ 2007 which was pretty good last time I had a wee dram. On the other hand, do I want to waste what’s left of it on the judges?
Bright!
I wanted to grow more flowers this year.
Bright!
The last of our carrots the badger left behind.
Bright!
The inside of Aaron's enormous beetroot before it was cooked.
Big!
Some of our shallots drying on the shed floor.
Big!
Nick's onions - I'm sure he'll win a prize for those.
Big!
Our beetroot seem to like this rain we've been having.
Beautiful!
The sweet peas have been a real success, unlike the ones at home.