There’s no better way to meet like-minded gardeners, compare your green thumbs and investigate new varieties of plants than by exploring a local horticultural show. Taking the next step of entering plants in a show can be a very rewarding and educational experience for gardeners of any age.

Many garden clubs sponsor shows open to the public. County agriculture fairs also offer a variety of shows. It’s important to get a copy of the show schedule as it will provide information necessary for entering your plants. It also details how each entry must be presented, such as how many blooms are required on cut flowers and whether leaves should be attached.

For fruits and vegetables, there could be requirements for the number of entries submitted and if a stem needs to be attached. It’s important to note that if multiple specimens need to be included, as with cherry tomatoes, they each need to be uniform in size and color.

If entering cut flowers, care should be taken when gathering the flowers for the show. Plan to cut your flowers in the evening or early morning. Always cut the stem several inches longer than necessary to allow for later trimming. Remove any leaves on the stem that will be in water.

For every entry, it’s important to look over your specimen carefully, watching for any slight defects. There shouldn’t be any sign of insect damage or wilting leaves. Always choose the best-looking specimens.

Most damage to plants occurs during transportation! Place plants / vases in large boxes and pack with lots of packing material. Make sure any leaves extending beyond the container are protected. Seatbelts may help but should not be trusted to protect tall narrow vases.

Last, but not least — label each entry. Correct and complete labeling helps make your exhibit a teaching tool for others. Judges may place an exhibit lower if it is labeled incorrectly or not at all.

Above all, don’t focus completely on winning; entering a horticulture show should be fun and entertaining. Look around at the other exhibits, and you may pick up a few tips for the next show!

There are several wonderful horticultural shows in the Mahoning Valley. These include:

�–� The Gardeners of Greater Youngstown’s 60th annual show at the D.D. Davis Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens. Free and open to the public, exhibits can be dropped off 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. For more details, visit www.gg-yo.org

�–� Canfield Fair 2025 Floral Arts display. Entry fee is 60 cents per entry, except for Adult Garden Art, which is $3. Entries are accepted Aug. 26. More details are found at www.canfieldfair.com