Local Veg Shows

[davyw1]

If any one is going to put onions into their local shows in Sept now is the time to pull them and get them stripped to brown off

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[davyw1]

[Tee Gee]

and Shallots as well!

Not that I show any more but for curiosity I thought I would sort out some of my shallots.

To my mind it won't take a lot of doing to get these ready for the show bench;

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd better lift mine tomorrow as our show is in a couple of weeks. Are there any sites which show how to prepare veg?

[davyw1]

I'd better lift mine tomorrow as our show is in a couple of weeks. Are there any sites which show how to prepare veg?

I dont know but ask and thou shall receive

[Tee Gee]

I have never got round to reading what is in here but I am quite sure you might find some info.

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/index.php

If not write in with what you plan on showing (pictures would help) and I will give you all the assistance I can

[Robert_Brenchley]

Thanks. there are articles on growing for show, but I don't see anything on presentation. The main thing is alliums, I'm definitely doing onions, garlic and elephant garlic. I know the traditional thing is tio bind the tops with raffia, but I don't know how it's done. Then if I put in for 'any five veg', how many peas, say, should I include?

[growmore]

Grand onions there Davey .. Good to see pics .

[Tee Gee]

I know the traditional thing is tie bind the tops with raffia, but I don't know how it's done.

Will take this item first;

I use method 3 shown here; http://www.ropeworks.biz/reader/whipping.pdf

I don't see anything on presentation.

See pictures below for some examples.

The main thing is alliums, I'm definitely doing onions, garlic and elephant garlic.

Then treat them all the same i.e. if it asks for three give three, if it does not give a number, do not exhibit more than three.

The more you display the more faults that will be found.

Then if I put in for 'any five veg', how many peas, say, should I include?

Generally you work on threes & sixes.

I don't have examples of 5 five veg but I think you will get the basic idea with the three & four veg examples I have shown.

A good idea is to get a piece of board 18"x24 inches and cover with black cloth (matt finish) alternatively just use a piece of black cloth folded to suit the size of your exhibit. This just sets your exhibit off and looks good.

Paper plates are very handy for displaying exhibits. If your exhibits are round e.g. tomatoes, and don't stand up on there own, place a handful of sand on the plate first and gently push your exhibit into this.

Pieces of guttering fall pipe are very hand for exhibiting onions. Use 3" diam pipe -  cut one piece about 1" high, one 1½" high and one 2" high place a piece of black cloth over them then sit your onions on the cut pipe sections, this will display your exhibit in a 'terraced' style. Its also a useful way of kidding the onlooker that all your onions are the same size.

If you have one that is smaller than the other two sit it at the front, conversely if you have one that is bigger than the other two then sit it at the back, both ways creates an optical illusion.

Do not display items on a plate that hang over the side of the plates e.g. runner beans, use a backing board or nothing at all, the plate in this case would spoil the appearance of the exhibit.

Here are a few pictures that might explain things better.

If you require any further info please shout!

Some multi veg exhibits;






Some single veg exhibits;































Methods of transporting your exhibits;



Note how the runner beans are wrapped in damp kitchen towel to keep the fresh after picking.

[Good Gourd 2]

Thankyou TeeGee for the info.  We are  having our first veg show at our lotty.  Its all for fun really, you know ugly veg largest onion etc,. I would still like to present them as best I can.  So this has been very helpfull.  Orelse :D

[davyw1]

Here is a few tips
If you intend to show beetroot cover the root with soil till the show date to try and keep it the same color when you come to take it out of the ground dig well down below it to get the tap root out intact. before benching give it a light  rub over with olive oil to polish it up then wipe off the oil.

Carrots and Parsnip, When you clean them don,t wipe up and down wipe round the them as that is the way the grain goes

Onion, always use raffia to frap them, again a light polishing with olive oil gives it a nice shine to catch the judges eye if you make time to present them properly the judge will take time to look at them.

Seed onion ( Big Onions ) Dressed, as above but if you have problems standing them cut a toilet roll inner in half snip down the the tube half an inch fold it inwards and stand the onion on it.

Cucumbers are terrable to get perfect as they mark easily so make sure the have a free drop away from any leaves or stems the slightest touch will mark them. Alway try to bench them fresh with the leaf and flower still attatched again a nice pollish with olive oil.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Thanks.

[raisedbedted]

Can I add a further question..

When you say about skinning should I take all the outer 'brown' skin off from both onions and shallots and leave them to dry to form new skin?

Thanks - never shown before but might try my hand this year if I can afford the 30p ;)

[davyw1]

Shallots i can,t answer as i have never had to show them.

Onions you take of the outer skin so you have an all white onion so it browns evenly. Also to get three onions the same size you may have to take of more than one layer of skin.

[Tom W.]

Aaarrgghhh! I _wish_ I had found this site some weeks ago. I have decided to have a go for fun in our local flower show and have a friendly wager with a fellow villager here in deepest Dorset. I've never done this before and haven't come across the art of presentation. Apart from the gingercake competition - open to men only - I plan(ned) to show tomatoes (no problem), onions and shallots. I lifted the onions today, washed them and removed most of the golden exterior revealing the white. They are beautiful ... large and pretty uniform .... and I only have to show 4. Now I read that I should have lifted them weeks ago, done basically what I have done, and then left them to re-ripen and develop a golden skin. Unless I can find some gold coloured olive oil (a useful tip .... thanks), I guess I'm scuppered. Oh ... I didn't mention the show is this Saturday, did I?!  Any tips for really rapid maturing ..... a tanning salon perhaps.

Any ideas welcome although I8 have reconciled myself to losing the pint of Yellowhammer at stake!

Tom W.

PS: Thank you for a hugely interesting and helpful forum.

[Robert_Brenchley]

How long do they take to develop a brown skin after you strip them?

[davyw1]

TOM W That does not stop you from entering the show always presume your entry is no worse than any one else,s. While you may loose points on color you will still be marked on shape and size
Also Olive oil gives a nice shine to tomatoes.

[davyw1]

How long do they take to develop a brown skin after you strip them?

:-*

That depends on the weather Robert, more the sun shines the quicker they turn. In my case i have pulled them for next year,

[Tom W.]

Davyw1 - many thanks for this. Very helpful and encouraging although I sense strongly that my friend is odds on to win the wager as he's exhibited before. But it's good fun and I plan to take it a bit more seriously next year - and do some planning in November.

Thanks again.

Tom W.

[davyw1]

Do some planning now, see if you can order yourself some over wintering onions called Centurion and Marimba they are good exhibition onions and can be lifted so you have plenty of time to color them.

[shirlton]

I put this on another thread but thought you would like to see it. I just knew I would find a good use for this excercise walker. Our allotment is entering the collection class at Kings Heath Garden Show at the end of August so i am getting some onions ready just in case they are good enough. Have brushed them gently with baby powder