Our Summer Show will be held on Sunday 7th September 2025 at Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre.
CNAA members are invited to bring in their entries between 10:15am and 11:15am. 30p per entry or 4 entries for £1. Cash only on the day.
Judging will then take place between 11:15am and 1pm, during which time the room will be closed. Members are welcome to stay and chat in the cafe area or pop back home or to the allotment.
We will then open the room back up at 1pm where all are welcome to view the entries and the winners. The prize giving will then follow with the event expected to wrap up around 2pm.
This is an excellent opportunity to show off your best produce, with prizes available per category, so even if you might not think you stand a chance of winning overall, you can still take home the prize for best onion.
If you’re not yet a member and would like to join the CNAA, please see our page with more information on how to join.
Categories can be found below and if you want to save time on the day, please feel free to download and fill it in at home. You can also print the entry cards ahead of time if you so wish.
And as a reminder, here are our top tips from our judge, J-P:
- Read the instructions carefully, then read them again. If it says 4 tomatoes, make sure you have entered 4, not 3, not 5.
- Preparation is key. Look at what you have growing now, and what you will still have in September. Now is the time to think about what can be lifted now (e.g. onions) and what can be cut on the day/the day before (e.g. cabbage)
- For veg shown in groups assume all the same is ideal, but if you have 1 perfect one and 2 so-so don’t be discouraged from entering. You might not win 1st place but you might still come 2nd!
- Don’t be afraid to ask your fellow plot holders for advice, especially if you’re new to growing for show. Everyone will be happy to give you some advice if you ask
- For sweetcorn, peel back one third down (one side), the judge will be looking to press on the corn to see a milky fluid to see if it is ripe
- You can start to lift your onions now to dry them out. Do not over skin them and leave the root on at the bottom.
- And read the schedule & the entry requirements again! Anything too big, too small, wrong amount will be disqualified.
If you are unsure of anything, please do get in touch with the committee and we’d be happy to help. And good luck!
