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If you are planning to exhibit some of your produce at the county fair
later this summer, you will find it worthwhile to begin planning for it
now. Select varieties that are dependable for your growing area, have a
high yield and are resistant to common diseases. Be sure that your
planing dates will allow sufficient time for the vegetables to reach the
proper maturity at the time you plan to exhibit them. During the growing
season provide correct cultural practices such as adequate moisture and
soil fertility, mulching, and proper thinning. There are four
major qualifications that make for an excellent vegetable exhibit:
The vegetables should be true to the variety type. For example, you
should not exhibit a zucchini squash as a buttercup, even though they are
both a squash.
They should be at market quality. In other words, tomatoes should be
red, not green [1].
All specimens in each exhibit should be uniform in size, color, shape,
and maturity.
And finally, they should be free of damage [2] from disease, insects, and the sources
such as hail.
Your county extension office has an excellent bulletin [3] that provides
specifics for each vegetable. Good luck with your entry!
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[1]
[2]
[3]
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