Competitions
We hold a number of competitions each year. Entry to these competitions is free.
Potato & sunflower
These are the first of our annual competitions to commence. A specific variety of potato for the competition is selected each year and along with other varieties for general cultivation are available from late February. Collect 3 seed potatoes and marker stick from the store shed, make sure you have entered your name on the entry schedule, plant them and await the results. Although most competitors will plant in the ground you can of course grow them in barrels or sacks. 30th June is the closing date for entry into this competition.
Usually the entries are lifted and weighed by committee members on the 2nd weekend in September and approximately a week before you will receive an email asking you to confirm you haven’t lifted them by mistake, still wish to take part and that they are clearly marked. If you do not reply it is assumed you do not wish to continue.
For the Sunflower competition you use your own seeds. There is no fee and there will be an entry list available in the store shed towards the end of August , you will have until the day before measuring is due to take place to enter. Check our website for measuring day(s) nearer the date If you also wish to enter the largest sunflower head please mark the entry form accordingly. On this occasion entrants will be required to cut off and bring the head(s) to the store shed for measuring on the relevant Sunday between 11.00am & 12.00.
Winner certificates will be presented to those attending our Awards and Plot Luck Supper Night in October.
Our website will confirm when seed potatoes are available. please contact any committee member who will be able to help. Look out for the red flag on their plot.
Occasionally potatoes fail to sprout. Should this happen, free replacements are available whilst stocks last. Please speak to a committee member.
How you cultivate your entry is a personal choice, rumours of night time ceremonies, chanting and the casting of weird spells ( usually on a competitor) cannot be commented on.
No cash prize or gift certificate is awarded for these competitions.
Floral Display/Best front of Plot Competition.
For many years a trophy has been awarded for what in the Judges opinion is the best front of plot display. During the last few years there has been a significant increase in the number of small and mini plots and, as not all of them can adjoin the roadway, the committee has decided to widen the scope of this award to include any plotholder who wishes to enter a floral display into the competition. The minimum size must equate to the width of the plot by 1.2metres (4 Ft ) deep and be clearly marked. Flower content must be varied with the choice left to the entrant. If your plot does not front the roadway then you must add your name and plot number to the entry form, if it does, don’t bother as it will be identified when judging takes place, again on the weekend of our Late Summer Show.
The winner will receive a gift certificate of £20.00
Certificates will be presented to the winners of the competitions at the Plot Luck Supper Night, which is held in October.
Points are awarded in these competitions and at the Annual Shows and the gardener with the highest total points is awarded the Ken Bowskill Victor Ludorum Trophy. (This page also shows how the points are awarded).
Further details are shown in the Trophy Winners page. The winner of the Victor Ludorum Trophy will also receive a £20 gift voucher.
External Competitions
A number of competitions are organised by the BDAC (Birmingham and District Allotment Cooperative). Details of these competitions are shown on the BDAC page.
Trophies are awarded for winners of these competitions, the most significant of these is Thorpe Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the Best Site in Birmingham. We won this competition in 1992,1998, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 & 2022.
These competitions have been suspended for the last couple of years but will take place again in 2025.
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