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The Editor's Tutorial |
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.Exhibiting |
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Exhibiting, or even just getting
involved in a Show by helping is a great way to meet fellow Society
members, begonia growers and enthusiasts. It is also an excellent way to
learn more about growing these beautiful plants.
If you intend to exhibit then you will want to try
and have your begonias at their best when they are on the Show bench.
This means getting the timing right and transporting them without damage.
The aim is to have the plants and blooms at their peak "on the
bench on the day" |
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This is our Society's
display at the Portsmouth & Southsea Show in 2001. It is 0800 on the opening
day and judging is about to begin. In the foreground are the cut bloom
classes, behind them the group display, over to the left are the pot
classes. Everything is down to the hard work and dedication of
Exhibitors, without them there would be no Show.. The majority are
locals but some may have travelled many miles to take part. |
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This is Dave
Coates, South Coast Representative and local champion. But you do not
have to exhibit against the likes of Dave, at least not until you have won
a few first prizes. First time exhibitors start in the Novice Classes
and are eligible to remain there until a first prize is gained then
graduate to the Intermediate Classes. Only after winning a further
five firsts is the exhibitor restricted to the Open Classes.
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Although very large pots are
undoubtedly a great attraction on the showbench there are several factors
that need to be considered before attempting to grow something that will
inevitably dominate everything else in your greenhouse.
1). It may take the same space as four single stem plants.
2). It will need considerable physical effort and strength to lift.
3). There may well be a problem getting it through the greenhouse door,
garden gate or even possibly through the house..
4). It will need special transport to the Show.
I believe that it is best to gain experience by exhibiting single stem
pot plants and/or cut blooms. |
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There are classes at begonia shows where only the cut bloom
is exhibited, and this has obvious advantages when it comes to
transporting. The blooms are taken to the Show in boxes and staged
on special boards containing paper cups which can be filled with water or
better still a solution that will prolong freshness. The boards are
usually provided by the Society. There are classes for 12, 6, 3 and
1 bloom. |
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The habit of the begonia
to produce a succession of buds in regular order allows the opportunity to
have, within reason, a plant in flower at a given time by pinching out
those buds that are going to develop into flowers too early.
As the Show date approaches some restraint is needed - chances are
that one bud may appear a little large and the next one too small. In
this case both are left on at this stage, you can always pinch another one off
but you can't add one on ! |
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The time that a small bud
takes to develop into a fully open flower and be at it's best will depend
on the variety, conditions and in which part of the country that you
live. Here on the south coast of England a bud the size the of a 20p coin
(22mm.) needs on average five weeks. In the Midlands add a week and in
Scotland probably add two. Only experience and/or the advice of other
growers can help here. It is good practice to keep notes. |
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Measuring and noting the
development of buds will give a record of the time a flower will take to
reach it's peak. Some varieties such as Apricot Delight and Roy Hartley
take up to a week longer than the average.
The length of time that a bloom will remain at it's best is governed by
conditions and the weather. |
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Some varieties need bloom
supports even in the greenhouse, others hold their flowers up without any
additional support, but it is almost certain that the blooms on pot plants
will need assistance whilst being transported.
Cotton wool or collars of tissue will protect petals from swaying leaves.
It is essential to ensure that the stems are securely tied to stakes.
Shown here is one of our Society's own fully adjustable bloom supports.
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You may not
win a prize at your first attempt, but you will get the satisfaction of
participating - you will be part of the Show. |
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This Tutorial was previously featured in
Begonia South Coast ,the South Coast Area website (now withdrawn).
Hence the emphasis
towards the Area on this page. |
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