Aberglasney Gardens launches giant vegetable competition for RHS National Gardening Week

Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire is marking RHS National Gardening Week (April 15-21) with the launch of a giant vegetable growing competition.
The team at these historic gardens is determined to encourage more of us to get gardening in 2013 and hopes to encourage rivalry on a mammoth scale!
RHS Regional Development Manager Ali Boyd said: "National Gardening Week is all about reaching out and encouraging people throughout the UK to get involved in gardening. We’re delighted that Aberglasney, an RHS Partner Garden, is getting involved to help make the week a resounding success."
All visitors to Aberglasney during National Gardening Week will be given a complimentary packet of seeds, thanks to Suttons, to get them started on the road to growing vegetables of larger than life proportions.
Head gardener Joseph Atkin will also be on hand to offer plenty of advice.

Speaking this week, he said: "While we’re going to be giving a selection of seeds away you’re not restricted to simply growing vegetables from these. On the contrary we want people to try out as many vegetables as they dare as we’ll have lots of different classes."
Joseph went on to say: "We have lined up a great team of judges for the competition including restaurateur and food critic Simon Wright and a celebrity judge whose name will be revealed soon!"
The battle of the beans, the meeting of the marrows and the conflict of the cabbages, will be judged at Aberglasney on Sunday October 6, giving everyone wishing to take part plenty of time to bring in a bumper crop of vegetables.

A Harvest Thanksgiving will also be held at Aberglasney on the day of judging.
The full list of classes is as follows:
1. Heaviest Individual Marrow
2. Heaviest Individual Pumpkin or Squash
3. Heaviest Individual Potato
4. Heaviest Individual Cabbage (washed root)
5. Longest Carrot or Parsnip
6. Longest Cucumber
7. Longest Runner Bean
8. Ugliest Vegetable in Show
Special prizes will also be awarded to the:
9. Best Junior Exhibit
10. Best Aberglasney Member Exhibit
It will be free to enter the competition and each exhibitor will receive one free admission ticket for entry to Aberglasney on the day of judging.

You are however required to complete an entry form for your exhibit(s).

Entry forms are available from Aberglasney and via the website www.aberglasney.org .

Entry forms must be completed and returned to Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, Carmarthenshire. SA32 8QH or emailed to info@aberglasney.org by Friday September 20.
Exhibitors who have not registered their entries before this date will still be able to enter but will be required to pay the normal garden admission price.

• Aberglasney Members now get 10% discount at 'Wright's in the Gardens' Cafe' - so do not forget to present your card at the till!
• If you would like to become a member at Aberglasney please visit the website for more info or ring (01558) 668998. 
• http://www.aberglasney.org/