Hi,
I've noticed there are some people on this board who have experience of judging and wondered if anyone could give me any tips, please.
The local horticultural show is on tomorrow and I'm hoping to be able to put some veg in and also dahlias. I really don't know what judges are looking for though, outside of guessing uniformity for multiple entrants?
How long should a dahlia stem be for show? I have some wonderful dinner-plate dahlias but the stems are very short. Could I still show these? Also, does a stem have to be just straight or could it be cut before a node for a longer flower?
As you can see, I'm a complete novice at this! Thanks a lot in advance. :) :)
The stem Length should be relative to the size of the flower, ie for true small poms you would want a shorter stem than for a large cactus type flower. The flowers need to be spaced in the vase so that each bloom has it's own space and the judge can see each as individual blooms. Normally in a vase of three blooms they would be staged as a triangle with a single bloom above the other two. Do make sure you have no wilting petals at the back, judges will judge as much from the back as they do the front.Watch out for earwig damage as this can make petals fall while the judges are moving the vases to see the back if the blooms.
Best of luck but even if you do not get any prizes try to learn from the other exhibits, sometimes there can be a chance to chat with the judges not to criticize they judging but to improve your future exhibits.
Hi,
Just to back up what Laurie Say's. keep everything as clean as you can and pest free, ask the other exhibitors most don't mind helping out, don't expect too much from your first time as it is a learning process to get it right, and read the show schedule carefully as many a mistake even by experienced exhibitors are made and the last thing you want is N A S ( Not As Schedule) but i wish you all the best.
Don't forget to post how you get on
Hi,
Thank you very much for replying. Sod's law it didn't go ahead but at least I'll know for next year!
Show or not, dahlias are just beautiful, I'm enjoying every second studying them!