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Large plants, can be transported with safety if fixed into cardboard boxes. Obtain shallow cardboard boxes from the supermarket or your friendly greengrocer. Identify the pot size of the plants to be carried, and select a spare pot of the same size. Turn the box upside down, place the spare pot on the box and draw round the base of the pot. Cut out the marked circle (on the large size) with a Stanley knife. The plant pot should then wedge snugly into this hole. Two plants can be fitted on larger size boxes. Better still place them in pre-cast concrete pot collars (as described in our previous issue). The weight will ensure the plants don't move around. Some keen exhibitors use a stockinette sleeve to wrap their plants in, this too avoids movement and hence potential damage. If you have a large number of plants to transport, it is not a bad idea to have a 'dry run' of loading your car, so that you can sort out the best position for each tray, box, bucket etc. Four to five days prior to the Show Make out your entry form and send to reach our Secretary, Christine Bramley, no later than 12 noon on Thursday prior to the Show. This will allow the organisers to plan the space required for each class when setting up the show benches. (Late entries will be accepted only if space permits, but will need to be registered on arrival.) The day prior to the Show Make sure you are familiar with the plants to be entered in each class and list - down any additional entries not yet notified to the Show Secretary. Put your 'gubbins' box' (scissors labels etc.) with your plants and carriers. Remove yellowing or marked leaves, any open blooms, clean out all debris and moss from the surface of the compost and dress the top of the pot with fresh compost. Clean the outside of all pots. Or do as the experts exhibitors do: though it is usually stated that a plants must be shown in the pot it was grown in, the general practise is that, to ensure clean pots are put on the bench (to gain extra presentation marks in close contests), exhibitors have a second, identical, set of new, fairly new or thoroughly clean pots at the ready. The show plants are lifted out of their present pots just prior to going to the show and put into the new, clean ones. When the show ends it is reversed, the newish pots kept in fine condition for the next show. Showday Load the car with plants and check off against your entry form to ensure nothing is left behind. Set off in good time and drive carefully. Cornering on two wheels and harsh braking is not recommended! On arriving at the Show venue, try to park as near as possible to the hall entrance. Before unloading go into the hall and get some idea of layout, and where you can put your plants for final dressing before staging them. If there are no tables available, find a Show Steward who will help you to find an area to do your staging. The Show Secretary will have a table close to the entrance and will have the entry cards ready for collection. At the same time, notify the Show Secretary of any additional plants you wish to register for entry, and the respective entry cards will be made out. Please also advise the Show Secretary of any registered entries you wish to delete. continued on next page |
