Grow And Show Together - The 2024 Edinburgh Allotment Show
The Caley and FEDAGA shows are always friendly events. In Grow and Show Together we encourage everyone to ‘grow their own’ and ‘show their own’ whether it be flowers, vegetables or fruit.
Many of you will have something you can enter - flowers, fruits, or vegetables. Do not be afraid to give it a go!
We offer a big ‘Welcome’ to growers of all ages whether or not they have taken part in a show before. All gardeners are welcome to exhibit at our 2024 Show, and we encourage local schools as well.
As last year, we will bring the Caley Autumn Show and The FEDAGA Allotment Show together – the Caley schedule will cover the flowers, and FEDAGA will host the vegetable section.
There will be other actvites over the weekend including:
Not-for-competition: Tomato Tasting: Bring your tomatoes (named varieties).
Everyone is welcome to taste and rate the varieties.
Vegetable Classes
100. 2 Cabbages
101. 1 Cauliflower
102. 3 Beet - Globe or other
103. 3 Carrots - Long
104. 3 Carrots - Stump
105. 3 Turnips
106. 2 Swedes
107. 3 Leeks - Long
108. 3 Leeks – Pot
109. 9 Shallots - Pear Shaped
110. 9 Shallots - Other
111. 3 Onions - Kelsae type
112. 3 Onions - White, except Kelsae type
113. 3 Onions - Red
114. 6 Tomatoes - Red
115. 6 Tomatoes - Yellow
116. 1 Truss of Tomatoes
117. 2 Lettuces
118. 8 pods Peas
119. 12 pods French Beans
120. 6 pods Broad Beans
121. 6 Pods Runner beans
122. 3 Parsnips
123. 1 Marrow
124. 6 Rhubarb stalks
125. 1 Cucumber
126. 5 Potatoes - Kidney White
127. 5 Potatoes - Round White
128. 5 Potatoes - Coloured, including white with coloured eyes
129. Potato Collection - 3 plates of 5, any 3 varieties
130. 2 Peppers
131. 6 Chillies
132. 2 Courgettes
133. 2 Celery
134. 2 Sweetcorn
135. 3 Garlic
136. 1 Pumpkin/Squash
137. Any other Vegetable
Vegetable Collections
200. Collection of 3 Vegetables from different classes as defined within classes 100 to 136, shown on a dressed tray.
201. As above, but 6 varieties entered by a minimum of 3 plotholders from a single Allotment site.
202. Collection of Herbs in a vase.
203. Salad Collection shown on a dressed tray; any three from: 6 Spring Onions, 6 Radish, 6 Tomatoes, 2 Lettuces, 1 Cucumber or 2 Celery.
Giant Vegetable Section
300. Heaviest Cabbage
301. Longest Carrot
302. Longest Runner Bean
303. Heaviest Potato
304. Heaviest Marrow
Fruit
400. 4 Dessert Apples
401. 4 Cooking Apples
402. 4 of any other Tree Fruit (pears, plums, damsons etc.)
403. Dish of Brambles, minimum 15
404. Dish of Raspberries, minimum 15
405. Dish of any other soft fruit, minimum 15 (red, black, white currants)
406. Dish of any other fruit
Baking
500. Apple Pie, own recipe
501. Vegetable Cake, own recipe
502. 6 biscuits
503. Loaf of Bread (hand-made)
Preserves
504. Jam, Strawberry
505. Jam, Raspberry
506. Jam, any other
507. Chutney
508. Fruit Jelly (any fruit)
509. Pickles (any sort)
Young Growers’ Section
600. One Sunflower with a 30 cm stalk
601. A Veggie Monster
602. Miniature garden in a seed tray
603. 2 Root vegetables (beetroot, carrot, parsnip, turnip)
604. 6 pods French Beans, Runner Beans or Peas
605. 1 poem about slugs
606. 1 photograph ‘my family on the allotment’.
Flower Classes
F1. Three vases of Flowering Herbaceous perennials
One variety in each vase no less than 3 stems no more than 6 stems in each vase.
F2. Three Vases of Flowering Annuals
One variety in each vase. No less than 3 stems and no more than 6 stems in each vase.
F3. One Vase of Mixed Flowering Annuals
No less than 3 different genera (types).
F4. One Vase of Flowering Herbaceous Perennials
No less than 3 different genera (types)
F5. One Vase of Mixed Flowering Herbaceous Perennials for effect.
F6. Two Vases of Dahlias Any type, 3 stems per vase
F7. One Vase of Three Dahlias Any type.
F8. One Vase of Foliage Any type.
F9. One Hosta Leaf in a Vase.
F10. Three Hosta Leaves in a Vase.
F11. Specimen Rose with a 20cm stem.
F12. One Vase of Flowering Shrubs for effect.
F13. One vase of Chrysanthemums - Spray
F14. Three Gladioli spikes.
F15. One Gladioli spike
F16. 12 Sweet Pea sprays.
Guide to showing:
Rules are there to help you and help ensure that flowers and vegetables have been grown by exhibitors. We hope these easy guidelines will help you to select and prepare your exhibit.
Showing Vegetables
In the shops you will never see vegetables and fruit with their roots or stalks left on and a bit of greenery on top - that is why we ask for them to be exhibited in this way. The body of the vegetable can be tidied up by removing the little hairy rootlets but the main tap root is left in place.
Vegetables shown to their best advantage can sway a judge when two exhibits are very close in quality. Onions and shallots sitting in a plate of sand. Onions on rings made from the cardboard toilet roll inners stand up well. Green beans and peas on a black cloth. A decorated tray means you can place asparagus fern, nasturtiums or similar to enhance your exhibit. Try to exhibit uniform sized and shaped vegetables, for example: three straight and similarly sized carrots. Use as near blemish free and as fresh as possible. Clean using a sponge and water, try to avoid any damage.
A few specifics:
Showing Fruit
Showing 'Preserves'
Pots of Jam must be filled, properly sealed and presented in a labelled pot.
Organically grown entries
We support the Garden Organic principles of organic gardening:
See also: www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice
Organic exhibits will carry a green dot on the Exhibitor’s card and must meet the Garden Organic cultivation standards.
For organic advice on the use chemicals see the above link.
Tasting Tomatoes
Please bring along any named varieties of tomato that you have grown, for our not-for-competition tasting trials. Bring at least three fruits and labels to identify the variety.
Showing Flowers
Show Regulations (this section is under revision - check back nearer the time)
1. Vegetable classes are open to all members of FEDAGA affiliated Associations and their families. All exhibitors must be amateur gardeners. Caley members and Friends who are not FEDEGA members but wish to exhibit will have a distinct entry.
2. Exhibitor’s entries must have been grown by the exhibitor for not less than 60 days.
3. No more than two entries per class are allowed.
4. The show organisers have the right to refuse any entries.
5. All exhibits must be identified by the Exhibitor’s Cards provided.
6. With the exception of the Judges and Stewards, no one is to be present during judging.
7. Judges may withhold awards if, in their opinion, no exhibit merits a prize.
8. Any trophies presented should be returned immediately aher the ceremony for engraving.
9. It is the responsibility of exhibitors to ensure that their exhibits are removed immediately after the close of the show on Sunday.
Getting there
Public transport: These buses stop near Saughton Park: 1, 2, 3, 22, 25, 30, 33, 38 - or take the tram, stopping at Balgreen. It’s a 4 minute walk away.
Parking: there are two car parks. if you are bringing produce, the nearest to the courtyard is the large car park at Ford’s Road (approach via Stenhouse Avenue). There is a smaller car park off Balgreen Road, but then you need to walk through the greenhouse and Rose Gardens to reach the courtyard.
The show takes place in the courtyard situated at the western end of the Saughton Rose Gardens shown on the map below.
- The show will be held at Saughton Park on Saturday 31st and Sunday 1st of September 2024
- Staging entries will be available from 9 – 11.45 am on the Saturday
- Judging will take place on Saturday at 12 noon
- Trophies will be presented on Sunday at 2:30
Many of you will have something you can enter - flowers, fruits, or vegetables. Do not be afraid to give it a go!
We offer a big ‘Welcome’ to growers of all ages whether or not they have taken part in a show before. All gardeners are welcome to exhibit at our 2024 Show, and we encourage local schools as well.
As last year, we will bring the Caley Autumn Show and The FEDAGA Allotment Show together – the Caley schedule will cover the flowers, and FEDAGA will host the vegetable section.
There will be other actvites over the weekend including:
Not-for-competition: Tomato Tasting: Bring your tomatoes (named varieties).
Everyone is welcome to taste and rate the varieties.
Vegetable Classes
100. 2 Cabbages
101. 1 Cauliflower
102. 3 Beet - Globe or other
103. 3 Carrots - Long
104. 3 Carrots - Stump
105. 3 Turnips
106. 2 Swedes
107. 3 Leeks - Long
108. 3 Leeks – Pot
109. 9 Shallots - Pear Shaped
110. 9 Shallots - Other
111. 3 Onions - Kelsae type
112. 3 Onions - White, except Kelsae type
113. 3 Onions - Red
114. 6 Tomatoes - Red
115. 6 Tomatoes - Yellow
116. 1 Truss of Tomatoes
117. 2 Lettuces
118. 8 pods Peas
119. 12 pods French Beans
120. 6 pods Broad Beans
121. 6 Pods Runner beans
122. 3 Parsnips
123. 1 Marrow
124. 6 Rhubarb stalks
125. 1 Cucumber
126. 5 Potatoes - Kidney White
127. 5 Potatoes - Round White
128. 5 Potatoes - Coloured, including white with coloured eyes
129. Potato Collection - 3 plates of 5, any 3 varieties
130. 2 Peppers
131. 6 Chillies
132. 2 Courgettes
133. 2 Celery
134. 2 Sweetcorn
135. 3 Garlic
136. 1 Pumpkin/Squash
137. Any other Vegetable
Vegetable Collections
200. Collection of 3 Vegetables from different classes as defined within classes 100 to 136, shown on a dressed tray.
201. As above, but 6 varieties entered by a minimum of 3 plotholders from a single Allotment site.
202. Collection of Herbs in a vase.
203. Salad Collection shown on a dressed tray; any three from: 6 Spring Onions, 6 Radish, 6 Tomatoes, 2 Lettuces, 1 Cucumber or 2 Celery.
Giant Vegetable Section
300. Heaviest Cabbage
301. Longest Carrot
302. Longest Runner Bean
303. Heaviest Potato
304. Heaviest Marrow
Fruit
400. 4 Dessert Apples
401. 4 Cooking Apples
402. 4 of any other Tree Fruit (pears, plums, damsons etc.)
403. Dish of Brambles, minimum 15
404. Dish of Raspberries, minimum 15
405. Dish of any other soft fruit, minimum 15 (red, black, white currants)
406. Dish of any other fruit
Baking
500. Apple Pie, own recipe
501. Vegetable Cake, own recipe
502. 6 biscuits
503. Loaf of Bread (hand-made)
Preserves
504. Jam, Strawberry
505. Jam, Raspberry
506. Jam, any other
507. Chutney
508. Fruit Jelly (any fruit)
509. Pickles (any sort)
Young Growers’ Section
600. One Sunflower with a 30 cm stalk
601. A Veggie Monster
602. Miniature garden in a seed tray
603. 2 Root vegetables (beetroot, carrot, parsnip, turnip)
604. 6 pods French Beans, Runner Beans or Peas
605. 1 poem about slugs
606. 1 photograph ‘my family on the allotment’.
Flower Classes
F1. Three vases of Flowering Herbaceous perennials
One variety in each vase no less than 3 stems no more than 6 stems in each vase.
F2. Three Vases of Flowering Annuals
One variety in each vase. No less than 3 stems and no more than 6 stems in each vase.
F3. One Vase of Mixed Flowering Annuals
No less than 3 different genera (types).
F4. One Vase of Flowering Herbaceous Perennials
No less than 3 different genera (types)
F5. One Vase of Mixed Flowering Herbaceous Perennials for effect.
F6. Two Vases of Dahlias Any type, 3 stems per vase
F7. One Vase of Three Dahlias Any type.
F8. One Vase of Foliage Any type.
F9. One Hosta Leaf in a Vase.
F10. Three Hosta Leaves in a Vase.
F11. Specimen Rose with a 20cm stem.
F12. One Vase of Flowering Shrubs for effect.
F13. One vase of Chrysanthemums - Spray
F14. Three Gladioli spikes.
F15. One Gladioli spike
F16. 12 Sweet Pea sprays.
Guide to showing:
Rules are there to help you and help ensure that flowers and vegetables have been grown by exhibitors. We hope these easy guidelines will help you to select and prepare your exhibit.
- Make sure that you enter your exhibit in the correct Class. If in doubt ask a Steward when you’re setting up.
- Make sure that you allow plenty of time to set up your exhibit. The more attractive it looks, the better it will do.
Showing Vegetables
In the shops you will never see vegetables and fruit with their roots or stalks left on and a bit of greenery on top - that is why we ask for them to be exhibited in this way. The body of the vegetable can be tidied up by removing the little hairy rootlets but the main tap root is left in place.
Vegetables shown to their best advantage can sway a judge when two exhibits are very close in quality. Onions and shallots sitting in a plate of sand. Onions on rings made from the cardboard toilet roll inners stand up well. Green beans and peas on a black cloth. A decorated tray means you can place asparagus fern, nasturtiums or similar to enhance your exhibit. Try to exhibit uniform sized and shaped vegetables, for example: three straight and similarly sized carrots. Use as near blemish free and as fresh as possible. Clean using a sponge and water, try to avoid any damage.
A few specifics:
- Beets, Carrots, Parsnips and Turnips should have about 3” (7.5cm) of stalks. Tie the green tops together with raffia or wool to keep them tidy.
- Onions should have their roots trimmed and the top bent over and neatly tied with raffia or wool.
- Cauliflowers should have a 2 inch stalk.
- Leeks have their roots left on and the "flag" leaves untrimmed, you can remove some of the dead "skin" but be careful to keep the root area neat.
- Pot Leeks should have a maximum of 6 inch blanch length from base plate to the button.
- Tomatoes should have a 1 inch stalk left on
- Rhubarb should be pulled, not cut, and with under 3 inches of leaf stalk.
Showing Fruit
- Fresh as you can get.
- All fruit should have the stalks left on.
- Apples: remove leaves and stage flower end up.
Showing 'Preserves'
Pots of Jam must be filled, properly sealed and presented in a labelled pot.
Organically grown entries
We support the Garden Organic principles of organic gardening:
- Build and maintain soil health
- Encourage biodiversity
- Use resources responsibly
- Avoid using harmful chemicals
- Maintain a healthy growing area
See also: www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice
Organic exhibits will carry a green dot on the Exhibitor’s card and must meet the Garden Organic cultivation standards.
For organic advice on the use chemicals see the above link.
Tasting Tomatoes
Please bring along any named varieties of tomato that you have grown, for our not-for-competition tasting trials. Bring at least three fruits and labels to identify the variety.
Showing Flowers
- All blooms should be shown in vases provided by The Caley.
- Try to exhibit blooms of a similar size, well presented in the vase to show them to their best advantage, ie, symmetrical, not lop-sided.
- Tip for showing sweet peas: You need long stems, if they are all the same colour place five tallest at the back, four medium in the middle, and three shorter at the front. If showing mixed colours, try to get complementary colours so that they do not clash.
- The ideal Gladioli spike has a third in full bloom, a third in coloured bud and a third in green bud.
Show Regulations (this section is under revision - check back nearer the time)
1. Vegetable classes are open to all members of FEDAGA affiliated Associations and their families. All exhibitors must be amateur gardeners. Caley members and Friends who are not FEDEGA members but wish to exhibit will have a distinct entry.
2. Exhibitor’s entries must have been grown by the exhibitor for not less than 60 days.
3. No more than two entries per class are allowed.
4. The show organisers have the right to refuse any entries.
5. All exhibits must be identified by the Exhibitor’s Cards provided.
6. With the exception of the Judges and Stewards, no one is to be present during judging.
7. Judges may withhold awards if, in their opinion, no exhibit merits a prize.
8. Any trophies presented should be returned immediately aher the ceremony for engraving.
9. It is the responsibility of exhibitors to ensure that their exhibits are removed immediately after the close of the show on Sunday.
Getting there
Public transport: These buses stop near Saughton Park: 1, 2, 3, 22, 25, 30, 33, 38 - or take the tram, stopping at Balgreen. It’s a 4 minute walk away.
Parking: there are two car parks. if you are bringing produce, the nearest to the courtyard is the large car park at Ford’s Road (approach via Stenhouse Avenue). There is a smaller car park off Balgreen Road, but then you need to walk through the greenhouse and Rose Gardens to reach the courtyard.
The show takes place in the courtyard situated at the western end of the Saughton Rose Gardens shown on the map below.
Last year the Edinburgh Allotment Show was jointly staged by FEDAGA and the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society ("The Caley") in Saughton Park over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd September 2023.
The weather was glorious and the exhibits reflected the effort and expertise applied by allotment holders and members of the public. Thanks to George Anderson for presenting the well-earned trophies and also to everyone who participated.
The weather was glorious and the exhibits reflected the effort and expertise applied by allotment holders and members of the public. Thanks to George Anderson for presenting the well-earned trophies and also to everyone who participated.