Whilst the majority of vegetable varieties available, if grown well and properly presented, would be a valuable addition to the many shows staged across the country. There are varieties and cultivars, which due to their attributes, are regularly seen on the show bench and do particularly well in competition.
To assist those new to growing for showing, the following are amongst the most reliable and successful currently available.
This is not an exhaustive list of all vegetables but seeks to example those most regularly listed in show schedules and seen on the show bench.
Most are available through commercial seed houses whilst some will have to be sourced from specialist seed suppliers and breeders accessed through the horticultural press and/or the internet.
Beans, broad Imperial Green Longpod, Bunyards Exhibition & Giant Exhibition Longpod
Beans, dwarf french Hawkesbury Wonder, The Prince & Safari Kenya Bean
Beans, runner Stenner, Liberty (Lovejoy) & Benchmaster
Beans, climbing French Cobra, Algarve & Fasold
Beetroot, globe Pablo, Red Ace & Cardeal
Beetroot, long Cheltenham Greentop, Regar & Long Black
Cabbage Green Ramco, Stonehead & Brigadier
Carrots, long New Red Intermediate & St. Valery
Carrots, stump rooted Sweet Candle, Nandor, Trevor & Norwich
Cauliflower Raleigh, Mayflower, Skywalker & Boris
Celery Morning Star, Evening Star & Starburst
Courgettes Venus, Defender & Ambassador
Cucumbers Carmen (frame), Marketmore (outdoor) & Socrates (mini)
Garlic Solent Wight & Giant Elephant
Leeks, blanch Pendle Improved & Welsh Seedling
Leeks, pot Cumbrian, Yorkshire Green/Blue & Betty Black
Lettuce Webb’s Wonderful, Rosedale, Lakeland & Lobjoits (cos)
Marrow Table Dainty, Bush Baby, Badger Cross & Blyton Belle
Onions, exhibition Kelsae & Showmaster
Onions, 250g & under Toughball, Tasco & Vento
Parsnips Gladiator, Panorama, Palace & Victor
Peas Show Perfection, Alderman & Hurst Greenshaft
Peppers, chilli Joe’s Long, Giant Jalapeno, Scotch Bonnet & Apache
Peppers, sweet Ace, Lany, Diablo & Ariane
Potatoes, white Winston, Nadine, Casablanca & Harmony
Potatoes, coloured Kestrel, Amour, Maxine, Bonnie & Bluebell
Radish Scarlet Globe, Robin, Sparkler & Bacchus
Rhubarb Raspberry Red, Victoria & Stockbridge Arrow
Shallots, exhibition Hative de Niort, Ambition & Aristocrat
Shallots, under 30mm Hative de Niort, Jemor & Aristocrat
Swede Helenor, Tweed & Marian
Sweet Corn Swift, Lark & Ovation
Tomatoes Cappricia, Zenith, Shirley & Meccano
Tomatoes, cherry/small fruited Sungold (cherry), Apero (plum), Sweet Million (mini) & Sakura Red (cherry)
Tomatoes, beefsteak Marmande, Country Taste & Big Daddy
Barry Newman FNVS
3rd Review November 2016