We took a break from the usual plant fairs and shows we attend to go along to the RHS London Autumn Harvest Show 2012 (they really need a shorter name for this show!) at the Lindley Halls in Westminster.
As regular readers will no doubt have realised, vegetables and produce are not things that feature highly in our garden (unless you can count ornamental fig trees for example), but as we were both working in London yesterday we thought it might be fun.
The show isn't as large as the usual plant fairs we attend, only taking up one of the RHS halls rather than both, and as expected it was heavy on the veg. Not just heavy on the veg, but also heavy veg with the RHS Giant pumpkin competition.
Now how much pumpkin pie would that make, according to the sign this beast weighed in at 478kg or 1054lbs, and won the grower, Stuart Paton a £1,000 prize. You can just make out in the photo that its resting on a wooden pallet, presumably to help move this thing about. Whilst this is quite impressive, I wondered what the worlds record holding pumpkin would weigh... and it seems that this one is just a tiddler in comparison to the record breaker - 911kg (2009lbs) (see here for a photo).
As well as serious displays of veggies there were several stands by local schools, most of which went for a semi serious stand, personally we liked this one, a pumpkin tea party!
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| Noughts and crosses... almost! I really wanted to re-arrange the soft fruit! |
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| Autumn colour? |
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| Prize winning hamper |
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| Theres only so many ways you can photograph a table of apples |
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| This was another of the stands, I love the way these look, although I can't see us digging up our plot to grow pumpkins... maybe on an allotment one day! |
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| Lonely pair of tomatoes |
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| Prize winning leeks |
The show has quite a fun feel to it, and the "London Vegetable Orchestra" were on hand to play musical veg (of course... don't you play tunes on your carrot?)
All around the hall were stands selling food, and the smells wafting across the hall were far too tempting, and whilst all the veg was nice, we were far more taken by one particular stand...
Anyway, after something of in identity crisis as a veggie blog, Alternative Eden will be back to a more exotic feel next time!
To play us out, here's the London Vegetable Orchestra!
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
I saw the London Vegetable Orchestra a couple of years ago at Hampton Court Show. They're great fun!
ReplyDeleteHave a look at the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra sometime - I first came across them in 2007!
Hi VP, thanks for the suggestion i'll have a look for the Vienna one on Youtube!
DeleteLooks like a lot of cool stuff and very interesting to attend. These huge pumpkins are unreal. Someone had one here over 2000 lbs and still had another for the next contest they are expecting over 2500. I have to wonder why. :) It was interesting to see all the care they put in to getting one to grow that big.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Goldenray Yorkies
Hi Cher I found a link to the 2000lbs one, its amazing to see something that big, although I wonder what they taste like - are they even eaten I wonder?
DeleteThe London Philharmonic must be worried that this orchestra will steal their audience! There is something comforting about autumn festivals. Perhaps it's having a glimpse into a more agrarian existence; something primal within us or maybe just a feeling of connectedness to the earth. Maybe a glimpse of some idealized home. In any case, your post made me feel warm and cozy and ready for pumpkin spice flavoured coffee.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about them being comforted, I was instantly taken back to the Allotment society shows my Grandfather used to show at, summer show was Dahlias and autumn produce. The dahlia shows stick in mind, especially the preparation the night before with my gran checking each bloom and adjusting petals as required!
DeleteStill no pumpkin pie? Looks like a fun outting, and it's good to branch out every now and then and try new things!
ReplyDeleteHi Loree, no pumpkin pie, we enjoyed it despite the closest thing to an 'exotic' being hot peppers
DeleteOh my gourd! The orchestra looks like great fun, but I won't be putting their CD on my Santa list this year! I can see the appeal of the hotdog stand, and it's not the hotdogs. :>)
ReplyDeletelol, the orchestra worked well, the whole event seemed to ve very light hearted and fun! hot dogs :)
DeleteI went first thing on the Tuesday and am now realising how the evening was the time to go....cocktails and strange instruments...I missed out big time! I loved the giant pumpkins. Did you look at them and think, mmm perhaps I should grow a giant one too?! however I must admit I didnt spent that long there as it wasnt really my thing....I am however looking forward to the fair on the 23rd!
ReplyDeleteClive, the evening was the time to go :) I didnt have the same urges as you with the giant pumpkins, but the smaller ones did appeal, but as you know size isn't everything :D
DeleteWe will be there on the 23rd, hopefully see you there!
Those are wonderful vegies! I most noticeably love those colors of pumpkins, how i wish we have those lots of varieties too! I also wonder about the differences in their tastes.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, I assume there are different tastes between the pumpkins, although we haven't tried all the unusual varieties that exist. Glad you enjoyed the show!
DeleteMmmmm that's a bit of a mouthful - the show title - not the pumpkin :) Perhaps they should just call it the RHS Autumn Show. Looks as if it was a good day out - would that London was nearer. The photo of the pumpkin party bought a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, it was a fun evening, and the party was giving smiles to quite a few people at the event
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