Veges and flowers of all kinds on display at Kaitaia A&P show

The Farm and Garden section at Kaitaia's A&P show has been keenly contested for generations, in some cases by descendants of those who established the show well over a century ago. Photo/Peter Jackson

The Farm and Garden section at Kaitaia's A&P show has been keenly contested for generations, in some cases by descendants of those who established the show well over a century ago.

Giving a rival their beans takes on a whole new meaning at Kaitaia's A&P show. Mind you, it doesn't have to be beans.

Anyone who can get their hands on a home-grown cucumber — long green (but not telegraph), long white, short white or apple — or any other fruit or vegetable will be guaranteed a warm welcome at Te Ahu in Kaitaia on Thursday, where entries will be taken from 1pm to 6pm for the 130th Kaitaia and Districts (formerly the Mangonui County) A&P show.

President Jim Burrough has a pretty good record in the farm and garden section, although he confided last week that the weather hadn't done him any favours.

He'll be there though, along with many other keen gardeners, who about now will be casting a critical eye over their beans (dwarf, runner and butter), carrots (large and baby), onions (red, Pukekohe long keeper and pickling), schallots, round beet, long beet, rhubarb, tomatoes (cherry, red, yellow and pear-shaped), silverbeet, capsicums, chilli peppers, potatoes (red, white, Maori and large), kumikumi (green and ripe), bush marrows, buttercups, pumpkins (Queensland blue or crown), and any other vegetable that isn't specified.

Grapes, passionfruit (purple and banana), apples, peaches, pears, plums, lemons and any other variety of fruit will be equally welcome, as will hen eggs and herbs.

For those who don't have green fingers there are sections for flowers, children's floral work, preserves, cooking (including for children), needlework/craft (including for children), knitting and crochet, photography and children's painting.

Entering costs 40 cents for association members, and 50 cents for others, with entries in the flower and children's floral sections from 8am until 10am on Friday, in the interests of maximum freshness. All other classes close at 6pm on Thursday. Flower exhibitors will need to take their own containers.

The hall will open to the public from 1pm to 4pm on Friday, and 9am to 3pm on Saturday.

Indoor schedules are available at RD1, DD Gold and the library at Te Ahu.

The balance of the show gets under way on Saturday, with many traditional attractions and some newer ones.

Horse events will begin in the main oval at 9.30am, followed by stock horses, jumping — both in the oval — Arabians and led sport horses and ponies on the polocrosse field at 1pm, with the grand parade at 3pm.

One of the highlights this year will be jousting in the oval.

Elsewhere on the grounds judges will be assessing beef and dairy cattle, while the poultry and small animals classes will cater for ducks, bantams, light and heavy bird breeds, with a trophy for best poultry in show. In the junior section the judges will also be looking for the best rabbit and guinea pig in show.

Entries in the animal classes closed last week, but free entries in the Topvets pet parade, behind the grandstand at 10.30am, will be taken on the day.

Every animal will collect a prize, with classes for dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, small mammals — rabbits, guinea pigs and the like— and large mammals (goats, sheep, ponies, calves etc).

Admission to the grounds will cost adults $5, children aged five to 16 $2, and pre-schoolers free.