Page 12 - Simply Veg 3.21

Final preparation for exhibiting your runner beans
RON NUTALL
Having missed out on a year which was
a blank for growers who enjoy exhibiting their produce, soon you will have an opportunity to enhance your name and reputation as a successful gardener in your area, by exhibiting a fine plate of Runner Beans at your local show. The judge will be looking for well grown specimens, straight, fresh with stalks intact and uniform tails.
Start the final preparations
15 days before your show
After making sure that there are no unwanted slugs. Water the plants generously with liquid fertilizer and thickly mulch the root area, possibly with spent compost from your seed trays.
Start by identifying the strongest and most healthy stock plants. Walk along the north side of your row, knowing that the beans you see will mature sheltered from the effects
of any scorching midday sun. Promise each and every one of your chosen plants that they will not be saturated whilst being treated to an adequate amount of watering.
Runner bean ‘Firestorm’
Book Review
GARDENING TO EAT
by Becky Dickinson Published by White Owl
This book covers the growing of a range
of vegetable and fruit crops and how to use them in the kitchen. It is aimed at
the new ‘Grow your Owner’ or beginner gardeners and is well timed with the influx of new gardeners following Covid 19. The experienced gardener may not find as much information of interest, although I think the chef in the kitchen might. There is a very good range of recipes, at least one for each crop covered. Some look new, others are a variation on existing recipes but still look very appetising and will add interest to your meals.
There are a good number of photographs, both of the individual crops and the completed recipes, this makes the book easy to read and adds interest. The book is divided into two sections, the first covers a general introduction to vegetable growing covering such topics as composting,
Runner bean ‘Enorma’
The plants that you have identified will be carrying a truss of flowers about three feet from the ground. Secure this truss with soft string, holding it firm and steady whilst the pods grow into show specimens.
After carefully removing all the unwanted beans from the plant. Take your scissors and reduce each of your chosen trusses to two growing beans. At this stage the beans will be only about four inches long, but long enough to develop to exhibition size over the next couple of weeks.
Now to pamper those chosen few
Eliminating any attacks from insect pests and birds. Applying a generous spray of liquid fertilizer onto the leaves to encourage straight and healthy growth and remove all unwanted stems that are likely to inhibit the continuous growth of your pods as they mature at a rapid rate, straight and flat.
Planning at the beginning of show week
The objective of the exercise will be to produce fresh green pods that are straight
rotation, no-dig and pest control. The second section is an A to Z (actually A to T) of the growing, preparation and cooking of the vegetables and fruits and covers 26 different crops.
The book is written in an easy to read style, with some good humour and covers the basic growing of the crops. The recipes are very good, and many are easy to do with only a few ingredients; it would be worth buying the book just for the recipes.
I fully agree with many of the authors views on grow your own, reducing food miles and why it is better for the environment by reducing the effects we have on climate change. The food produced is both healthy and nutritious and can be picked straight from your garden or allotment.
I recommend the book for any gardening beginner or keen vegetable grower who likes an easy read as well as aspiring chefs. If you have family members who are starting in the gardening hobby give them the book as they will find it easy to follow and gives simple guidance on the growing of a range of crops.
and all the same length and condition. After having given all this extra attention,
to exhibit a plate of six beans, you may have to choose and harvest at least a couple of dozen likely looking beans. During the week it will be decision time and select and cut the beans when they are the desired length. Harvesting beans that are going to catch the judge’s eye, knowing that quality is what he will be looking for rather than size and uneven growth.
During the week, take beans with their stems intact and hold them by the stems to avoid any damage to the bean. Harvest them as they achieve your preferred size and maintain their fresh, straight and flat appearance by keeping them wrapped in a damp tea cloth and in the fridge.
At the show, check your entry on the schedule and complete the paperwork. Exhibit on a black cloth and arrange the beans in a straight lines side by side and give a final trim to the stalks. Cover with a damp cloth for the steward to remove on behalf of the Judge when he comes along.
Runner bean ‘Tenderstar’
Kelvin Mason
12 Simply Vegetables