AN allotment holder’s hobby will reach new heights this week when his prize-winning daffodils will be showcased on national television.
Ken Harrop, from Denton, has been growing single-headed daffodils since 2006 and managed to reach the national standard within four years.
Last weekend, he won seven trophies and the best exhibit for his picture-perfect daffodils at the National Daffodil Society show.
On Friday, April 26, his daffodils and exhibition will feature on Gardeners’ World on BBC Two at 8pm.
Ken has been gardening since 1970, when he was just 16, and has been the secretary of a gardening society since 1991, where they have a demonstration plot located in two large greenhouses and a twin bay polytunnel in Tameside.
They grow Chrysanthemums together for showing in September and November, while Ken also grows his daffodils in plant pots in the greenhouses. He currently has 250 pots of daffodils – with over 1,000 bulbs!
“I was inspired to start gardening as it’s always been a part of my family, as my mother, father and grandfather were all avid gardeners,” said Ken.
“The reason why I started to grow daffodils was that somebody persuaded me to grow 20 bulbs in 2006 and, from there, it got out of hand.”
Ken enters his prize-winning daffodils into around five provisional competitions every year – the most recent show was the Harrogate Spring Show in Yorkshire.
He explained: “I find it a relaxing hobby, which allows me to get outdoors – all whilst socialising and making new friends, who I can swap stories and cultivation techniques with.
“At the competitions I’ve entered over the years, I’ve made friends for life, not only all over the UK but, all over the world, from countries like Holland.”
Ken described gardening as “a way of constantly looking forward to the coming season or year and never looking backwards”.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said: “We would like to thank Ken for sharing his gardening journey, as it’s such an inspiring story to those who may be considering getting involved in gardening.
“It’s a great opportunity to Think Green and get outdoors where you can. There are great health and wellbeing benefits of gardening and being outdoors.”
The council says there is currently a long waiting list for its allotment plots but there are lots of opportunities to get involved in community gardening projects and greenspace volunteering.
More information can be found at https://www.tameside.gov.uk/Countryside/Volunteering-in-your-Community
Good on ya mate, excellent work!