North York Horticultural Society

How To Prepare - Flower Show
by J Shean

How to Prepare for the Flower & Vegetable Show    

• In the morning or the night before the show,

• Take a look at the yearbook to see what is in the show this month. Then head to your garden.

• With a sharp knife or scissors cut flowers or foliage with a sloping edge. Quickly remove the lower leaves then put into tepid water and keep out of full sun.

• Remove lower leaves cleanly. Upper leaves must be attached unless other wise stated in category.

• Grooming is essential. Remove evidence of insects, disease, stains, pollen etc.

• Some  flowers, foliage and woody materials do not readily absorb water and require treatment to prevent wilting during the show.

Branches (Woody Stem Treatment)  benefit from scraping the bark from the bottom with a knife and then making a slit up with scissors or knife.

Flowers (Milky Sap Treatment) that exude a white latex or sap benefit from burning the cut end until it is blackened. (Poppies, Zinnis, etc.).

Spring Bulbs (Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils), cut away the white part of the stem then make a sloping cut on the green part of the stem