Green (Living) Review: Meet the UK’s Champion Garvinea Growers at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Why try to explain miracles to children if you can just let them grow Garvineas? That’s exactly what the teachers of approximately 200 primary schools in the UK thought when they signed up their classes for the Schools Gerbera Garvinea Growing Competition at www.thesun.co.uk/schoolsgardening. In February, they were sent 2 plants of 5 different cultivars by Thompson & Morgan, so that, they were able to start off their own exciting school projects by magically growing tiny Garvinea plugs into full-sized flowering garden plants.

Growing Flower Power

And what is a bigger miracle than nature’s flowers? After a fun and educational project the school-grown Garvinea plants will bring endless colour to school gardens with countless flowers from early spring until the first frost. Moreover, the best grown plants will also gain access to a spot in the competition final. 2013 is the third year in a row that British school children have participated in the Schools Gerbera Garvinea Growing Competition. After the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (2011) and the World Horticultural Expo Floriade (2012), this year the Royal Horticultural Society will be hosting the Schools Gerbera Garvinea Competition at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, from July 9 to July 14, 2013. In previous years, pupils in the UK have already proved that it’s not a question of IF Britain’s got growing talent, but WHO will take home the coveted engraved trowel award and on past experience, this year promises an exciting final.

May we have your votes, please?

^{After a careful selection of the best from each school and out of the thousands of plants sent out,}^t^h^e^fiⁿ^es^t^s^c^hoo^l^-^gr^o^wⁿ^p^l^an^t^s^w^ill ^{be judged}^b^y^sh^ow^vⁱ^s^it^o^rs^f^r^o^m^T^u^e^sda^y^Ju^l^y^9th^to^Frⁱ^da^y^Ju^l^y^12t^h^.^T^h^e^p^l^an^ts^w^ill^b^e^dⁱ^sp^l^ay^e^d^an^d^r^e^ad^y^to^b^e judged in the Grow Zone of the Children’s Marquee at the Hampton Court Palace. This area could well prove one of the most popular spots in the show, with lots of proud and smiling young grower’s faces and a large eye-catching display of Gerbera daisies in every form and showing their wide variety of uses. Surrounded by numerous bold-coloured Gerbera Garvinea garden plants; patio plants; house plants and cut flowers - provided by Gerbera breeding company Florist Holland – the winners in three age groups will take the stage. Awards will be divided into categories of Best Plant; Best Decorative Pot; Best Flower and Best Overall Grower.