dukes july 2011
Ready, Steady, Show
August is the month when the garden or allotment is in full production; flowers by the thousand delight the eye and nose. In the vegetable plot, many meals have been had from homegrown produce, with many more to come.
The courgette is a fantastic looking plant and, if you plant too many, one can soon be over run with the blighters. I was recently asked when does a courgette become a marrow?
The answer being that a courgette is always a courgette no matter what the size because a marrow is a different cultivar all together. The ideal size for picking is the finger test, so if it’s as big as your finger then it’s ready for picking. The flower is also edible; try stuffing the closed flower with your favourite cheese mixed with garlic and basil, dipping the whole thing in tempura batter and deep-frying.
For many gardeners who like to exhibit their produce, there are many local village shows to visit. On August Bank Holiday Monday the Stoke Fleming Horticultural and Sports Society will be holding its 135th annual show. The day is made up of various activities including races for the children, the hotly contested husband and wife three legged race and of course the even more contested exhibiting of vegetables and flowers and home craft.
Being at the end of the summer, the exhibitor has the best of both worlds - it’s not be too late to show summer flowers such as sweet peas but also in good time to show flowers like dahlias and asters.
There are classes for residents of the village as well as open classes for the premier exhibitors.
The trick with showing produce is having the right plants producing the best quality vegetables and flowers at the right time. Many is a time I have heard the comment, “only last week every thing in the garden was perfect and now I have hardly a bean to show”.
The other comment bandied about on show day is, “my beans at home are better than that”. So why not give it a go and enter your local show? Schedules are available in most of the village shops.
We mustn’t forget the Dartmouth and Kingswear Horticultural Society’s Show on the 10th of September. Schedules available from the Flavel and Gardentime Garden Centre.
It all makes for a great day out when old friends and rivals can meet up and chat about the trials and tribulations of the garden.
First Published August 2011 By The Dart
