For all those who felt inspired by Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall winning his first ever ribbon at his local fruit and flower show now's your chance to give it a go yourself!
The Earlsdon Flower Show is on September 4th this year and anyone can enter any of the 70+ classes that are available. And don't worry if you're not a flower grower either - if you bake a mean cake or make your own jams and/or chutney there are classes for you to enter and there's also a brilliant class for the kids - who can make the best animal out of fruit and/or vegetables? Don't feel like you have to enter though either, you can just turn up and have a fun couple of hours!
The show is at St Barbara's church hall on the corner of Rochester Road and Beechwood Avenue and entry is free. Viewing starts at 2.30pm and prizes and trophies will be presented at 4.30pm. If you want to know what the classes are they're here:
VEGETABLES
1. 3 ONIONS - Trimmed
2. 3 ONIONS AS GROWN - Max. weight 2 lb.
3. 10 RUNNER BEANS
4. 10 FRENCH BEANS
5. 3 CARROTS long - Foliage cut to 4"
5A. 3 CARROTS stump rooted- Foliage cut to 4"
6. 3 PARSNIPS - Foliage cut to 4"
7. 3 LEEKS - Untrimmed
8. 5 POTATOES - Coloured
9. 5 POTATOES - White - including coloured eyes
10. 2 CABBAGE - Stems cut to 75mm
11. 1 CAULIFLOWER – Trimmed stem cut to 75mm
12. 2 LETTUCE - With clean roots
13. 3 BEETROOT - Foliage cut to 6"
14. 2 COBS OF SWEETCORN - Cobs exposed
15. 1 PAIR OF TABLE MARROWS
16. 3 COURGETTES
17. 5 TOMATOES
18. 8 CHERRY TOMATOES
19. 10 SHALLOTS - Dressed
20. 3 BULBS OF GARLIC - Trimmed
21. 2 CUCUMBERS
22. 2 SWEET PEPPERS
23. KINGS SEEDS TOP TRAY as specified
24. 'A SELECTION FROM MY GARDEN'
25. 'A SELECTION FROM MY ORGANIC GARDEN'
(Class 24 and 25 Vegetables &/or fruit max tray size 40 x 60 cm)
HERBS
26. A COLLECTION OF FIVE CUT HERBS
FRUIT Leave stalks on, do not polish and name varieties if known
27. 5 DESERT APPLES
28. 5 COOKING APPLES
29. 3 PEARS
30. PLATE OF STONED FRUIT - Any variety
31. PLATE OF SOFT FRUIT - Stalks on
32. 2 EXOTIC FRUIT - decoration with natural material optional
DAHLIAS
33. 1 GIANT or LARGE
34. 5 BLOOMS DECORATIVE
35. 5 BLOOMS CACTUS
36. 5 BLOOMS BALL
37. 5 BLOOMS POMPON
38. CONTAINER OF BLOOMS
decoration with natural material optional
CHRYSANTHEMUMS
39. 3 STEMS SPRAY
40. 3 BLOOMS INCURVED or REFLEX
41. A BASKET OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS
decoration with natural material optional
HOME GROWN GARDEN FLOWERS
44. 3 H.T. ROSES
45. 1 SPECIMEN ROSE
46. 3 SPIKES GLADIOLI
46A. 1 SPIKE GLADIOLUS
47. A VASE OF ANNUALS &/or PERENNIALS
48. LADIES SPRAY
49. GENTS BUTTONHOLE
50. 'A SELECTION FROM MY GARDEN'
Any flowers with natural decoration
51. TOP VASE – as specified
52. Miniature decoration of fresh flowers
(Maximum 15.5 cm (6 inches) high and wide including container)
SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CLASS (Goody bag to all entrants)
54. AN ANIMAL MADE OUT OF VEGETABLES &/or FRUIT
POT PLANTS
55. 1 POT FLOWERING PLANT
56. 1 POT CACTUS or SUCCULENT
57. 1 POT FOLIAGE PLANT
58. 1 POT FUCHSIA
59. A MIXED CONTAINER
60. 1 POT PEPPER or CHILLI PLANT
HOMEMADE
61. VICTORIA SPONGE SANDWICH - filling optional
62. A DECORATED ICED CAKE – Royal or Fondant
62A. ANY OTHER DECORATED CAKE
63. FRUIT CAKE/LOAF
64. 6 FANCY CAKES
65. 6 BUNS or SCONES
66. 1lb./450 grams JAR OF JAM or JELLY
67. 1lb./450 grams JAR OF PICKLES or CHUTNEY
GIANT VEGETABLES
69. HEAVIEST ONION
70. HEAVIEST MARROW
71. LARGEST PUMPKIN by circumference
FAMILY MINIATURE GARDEN for rules see enclosed leaflet
72. FAMILY MINIATURE GARDEN
Sponsored by Antiques of Earlsdon
You can pick up a schedule from the allotment huts on Beechwood Avenue or Highland Road or from Antiques of Earlsdon or call 02476 679811 for further information.