Blue Ribbon Vegetable Gardening

September 7, 2015
Torpey (The Colorado Gardener’s Companion) writes giddily about vegetable gardening, going so far as to use the animated film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit as a point of reference, and she will even entertain non-gardeners with this delightful book. Dedicated gardeners will be impressed as she seriously coaches the sport of competitive vegetable growing. Torpey offers expert advice for every skill level, and most ages, on growing “the biggest and best prize-winning produce.” The book covers the history of vegetable competitions, from small-town harvest festivals to large county fairs, and the basics—seeds, soil, seasons—of entering and winning the coveted blue ribbon. Torpey profiles champion gardeners and farmers throughout. The bulk of the book details growing 10 competitive veggies, including beans and tomatoes. For each, Torpey covers planning and preparing, harvesting and transporting; she includes a checklist on what and how to pick, what to dismiss, and how to prepare for judging. The gem-like vegetables, including outlandish 1,000-pound pumpkins, display well in photographs, most taken at the Iowa State Fair. Color photos.