Youngsters show their growing skills by taking part in sunflower competition
ALTHOUGH Burbage Gardening Club were unable to hold their annual show this year they decided to try a new children’s class anyway which was to grow the largest sunflower seed head.
Rather than the original idea of bringing the seed head to the annual show, they decided to ask for a photograph of the seed head with a ruler placed across the diameter.
This allowed the competition to proceed under any remaining pandemic restrictions without the need to visit children’s homes.
A spokesperson said: “We sent a few ‘Giant Single’ variety sunflower seeds to all of the children who entered the 2018 and 2019 annual shows in the early spring with some growing and aftercare tips. We asked for photographs to be sent by early September and at the following general committee meeting we declared the winner.”
The winning entry measuring a whopping 26cm was from five year old Harvey Collins. The sunflower was grown on Dad Darren’s allotment plot and Dad suspects that Harvey watered the sunflower with some of his tomato feed which obviously paid dividends.
Harvey was presented with a prize card, rosette and £10 prize money. He also has the BGC Sunflower Trophy to hold for a year.
The spokesperson continued: “We will be running the competition again next year and hopefully the flower heads will be brought to and measured at the annual show on Saturday 20th August 2022 at Hastings High School in Burbage.”
Burbage Gardening Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Burbage Constitutional Club, 64 Church Street.
At social meetings they have talks on a range of gardening related subjects as well as skittles and domino evenings. They have organised trips to gardens and other places of horticultural interest as well as a members store with gardening products for sale at competitive prices.
Membership of the club is £10 per annum and visitors are always welcome at £2 per meeting. For further details of talks, outings and other activities please visit their website at www.bgclub.uk.