Growing For Show.

[Bigmallly]

Hi, although I don't personally grow for show or competitions, I am however still curious on the varieties on particular veggies should I wish to try growing a biggy. Next year, I'm gonna have a bash at Pot Leeks as they are supposed to have quite a large diameter...............any other veg that you've tried?

[Alicante]

Hi, although I don't personally grow for show or competitions, I am however still curious on the varieties on particular veggies should I wish to try growing a biggy. Next year, I'm gonna have a bash at Pot Leeks as they are supposed to have quite a large diameter...............any other veg that you've tried?

I dont grow for show either but I must admit that I find it fasinating. One day when I have time I am going to attempt growing sweet peas by layering, just to see if I can. I believe that this is the method used for show where long stems are required. Please correct me if thats wrong!

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Ali, that's one to bear in mind.

[Chippy Minton]

I don't grow for show, not really my cup of Darjeeling, plus to be honest I'm a long way from the pursuit of perfection, either in size of form, I'm definitely in the grow, something, anything, please grow, ahhh go on, ya' will, ya' will, ya' will, etc. phase of my gardening adventure...

However pumpkins seem to be next years big thing (all puns intended, no puns were harmed in the making of this post)

[Small pumpkin]

I will be watching this thread with interest. I've also never grown anything for show apart from the vvs ! But I think I may have the bug. I think I would end up growing for show but never showing ( lack of confidence , shy ). So to add to BM's request, show veg that is still good eating .

[Snadger]

Hi, although I don't personally grow for show or competitions, I am however still curious on the varieties on particular veggies should I wish to try growing a biggy. Next year, I'm gonna have a bash at Pot Leeks as they are supposed to have quite a large diameter...............any other veg that you've tried?

I've got a mahoosive pot leek strain which i am trying to save. My next door neighbours father has died, and with him the strain of leek he has lovingly cultured all his life. I've been around long enough to realise its all about the strain of leek and not what its growing in. Without the right strain of leek, forget it.My leek is planted in a large pot in the greenhouse. Hopefully it will throw up a seed head at some time and i will lovingly nurture it for its seed and grass. The seed will be for the future and the grass will be for the next years leeks.Vegetative propagation (grass, pips,pods) is only feasible for a few years as the strain degenerates. That's where the seed comes in as it will be virus free and help prolong the strain.
King pods can also grow from the base of the seed leek and my own strain is being grown this year from grass harvested form a kingpod last year. No one in the leek world teaches you these things as it all secret squirell so the bits i've picked up are through experimentation. AP is your big allium man methinks!
I dabbled with show leeks many years ago and two leeks like the leek I am seeding would have won the shows I was in!Guesing it is 4.5 inches diameter and 6 " to a tight button!

[Kirk]

My uncle grows leeks for show and is up in Ashington, near Snadger. No way will the "secret" of his leeks go to anyone. I think you need a strain and they are grown from bulbils not from the seed.

You can try the mammoth leeks from somewhere - forget who sells them.

There are others like onions and carrots.

Carrots may be an easier option. You want a seed like Sweet Candle and you grow them in tubes (4 or 6" drainage ones). Make up your compost or growing medium, fill tube and plant 3 seeds in each tube. Allow the strongest to grow on.

[Guest]

You can try the mammoth leeks from somewhere - forget who sells them.

Real seed do Giant Bulgarian Leek

[Snadger]

My uncle grows leeks for show and is up in Ashington, near Snadger. No way will the "secret" of his leeks go to anyone. I think you need a strain and they are grown from bulbils not from the seed.

You can try the mammoth leeks from somewhere - forget who sells them.

There are others like onions and carrots.

Carrots may be an easier option. You want a seed like Sweet Candle and you grow them in tubes (4 or 6" drainage ones). Make up your compost or growing medium, fill tube and plant 3 seeds in each tube. Allow the strongest to grow on.

Ashington is leek heaven! Robinson's do the Mammoth strain of most vegetables!

[Snadger]

Kelsae is a good show onion breed!

[Bill HH]

I grow a lot for shows. however half way through they get downgraded to "Domestic use" Two thirds of the way through I am deciding which to compost and which to eat.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Medwyn's of Anglesey do some top show seed, top prices too.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Oh and Peter Glazebrook of Newark former world heaviest onion champion will sell you some seed for a fiver.

[Alison]

I will be watching this thread with interest. I've also never grown anything for show apart from the vvs ! But I think I may have the bug. I think I would end up growing for show but never showing ( lack of confidence , shy ). So to add to BM's request, show veg that is still good eating .

That's one of the the things (well the only thing really) that totally confuses me about show growing, it's nothing to do with the taste. To be growing is all about the taste, don't care about appearance, uniformity, etc and don't want huge stuff as there us only two of us. I'm a definite grow your owner and I think much of that is at odds with show growing, a different animal all together. The displays can look impressive though 😀

[Potstubsdustbins]

I to do not grow for show but I believe we can learn from those that do. They will try anything to get their produce ready for the show bench and quite often their techniques can be useful to ordinary growers like myself.

I grew some of Glazebrook's onions this year, not massive but to 3lbs plus, they taste good, and the freezer now has plenty of onion for the winter stews etc.