SALGA Show

Although I've grown vegetables for the last 45 years, I've never entered a show until this year. Having been a member of SALGA, Swindon Allotment and Leisure Garden Association, for quite a number of years, I've enjoyed their half price seeds ordered through Kings Seeds, their talks and using the shop at Pickard's Field, I thought it was time to support the show. I wasn't sure if the vegetables I had would be good enough, but read up about how to present them for show, and spent a long time washing them as you can see here!

One of the categories I entered was a labelled plate of herbs, these gained second prize.

 I picked one of everything in flower from the garden as my vase of flowers

 I think there may have been too many flowers.
 Having set up the vegetables and house plants in the categories I entered, it's then time to go away and allow the judges to have a look, and then when you return, there are cards beside entries where you have one a first, second or third. It's very exciting.

 I was very pleased this Begonia got first prize

 Here's a general view of Dahlias and some Pansies

 And more flowers

 The judges deemed these tomatoes to be among the best they had ever seen.

 This beautiful map of Pickard's Field, including a reference to the inspiring Open Door Centre held  there was produced by Marilyn Trew who has mapped many places was at the show.

 And at the end of the show, while we were all clearing up. Brian of Pickard's Field fame gave me a fantastic bunch of Dahlias

Next year I'll have more idea what to enter and when to plant carrots so they're an optimum size for the show. I won't bother with a squash, my Crown Prince was laughably small, although it was my biggest one!!