HANGING BASKET COMPETITION

COME ONE, COME ALL! THE COMPETITION FOR ANY GREEN THUMB, CREATIVE PLANT LOVER OR ANYONE SIMPLY WANTING TO BE A PART OF THE SHOW!

Applications have now closed for the 2023 Show

COMPETITION BACKGROUND

After not appearing at the Show since 2019, the Hanging Basket Competition is back for 2023. An initiative driven by both Scotsburn Nurseries and the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria with the assistance of significant industry support, the Show is delighted to welcome the competition back.

From launching the initiative in 2001 and hosting 50 entries, the competition has grown to host over 400 entries in the most recent editions with engagement from Royal Horticultural Society Victoria members, affiliated garden groups, children, schools, TAFE Colleges, disadvantaged sectors, Youth Groups and a range of nurseries throughout the industry.

The concept was and remains simple; participants pay an entry fee and receive a kit to prepare their very own hanging basket which they then bring to the Show. The aim is to encourage gardening through a platform that allows anyone to be involved in the biggest Flower & Garden Show in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Hanging Basket Competition was created to encourage variety, creativity and providing a blank canvas to all participants. The mantra remains for all participants to have fun and challenge themselves.

Recent editions have seen a diverse range of plants such as cacti, succulents, bonsai, natives and culinary varieties. As a result, virtually anything is fair game as long as it can be successfully grown in a basket, with the only conditions listed in the Judging section below.

The competition continues to receive significant industry support thanks to both Brunnings (provider of the hanging baskets) and Debco (provider of the potting mix). The collection locations for the equipment are also integral to the competition, with further details below around the exclusive discounts available to participants from both All Green Nursery & Garden and Diaco’s Garden Nursery at the time of collection outlined below. This competition would not be possible without their ongoing support in creating a competition that allows a significant number of participants the rare chance to be a part of a Show of this scale.

WHO CAN BE INVOLVED

The short answer is anyone! The previous editions have seen the below groups engage with the competition:

Schools
TAFE Colleges
Garden clubs
Nurseries
Any keen gardeners!

ENTRY FEE

All participants will be required to pay a $50 Entry Fee to enter the Hanging Basket Competition.

WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE

All participants will receive the following for being part of the Hanging Basket Competition

Hanging basket and basket liner provided by Support Partner Brunnings (RRP $24.99 each) (Click here for product info)
1 x 10L Indoor Premium Potting Mix provided by Support Partner Debco (Click here for product info)
Two (2) complimentary One Day tickets to any day of the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (available after delivering your finished hanging basket to the Show)
Personalised signage added to each hanging basket for display

HOW TO BE INVOLVED

To take part in the Hanging Basket Competition, participants will need to follow the below process:

Complete the application form at the bottom of this page
You will receive confirmation from Event Management regarding your application and information regarding the collection of your equipment
Travel to your preferred pick-up location to collect your equipment for the competition (pick-up locations detailed below). Equipment will not be delivered to any participants.
Pay the $50 entry fee at the pick-up location
Take your basket and associated equipment with you
Prepare your basket leading into the Show
Deliver your basket to the Show (more information will be provided on this after you submit your application)
Collect your basket from the Show (more information will be provided on this after you submit your application)

PRIZE MONEY

Prize Money will be awarded to the top 10 entries at the below allocations:

1st Place – $1,000
2nd Place – $750
3rd Place – $500
4th Place – $450
5th Place – $400
6th Place – $350
7th Place – $300
8th Place – $250
9th Place – $200
10th Place – $150

JUDGING

All entries on display at the Show will be judged.

The only conditions for each entry are:

Each basket must have at least one living plant
Any accessories used must not be bigger than the plant
The hanging basket provided by the Show is the only hanging basket permitted for use

The features that the judges will consider when they assess the entries include:

Balance
Proportion
Plant quality
Maturity
Use of accessories
Innovation
Overall presentation

EQUIPMENT COLLECTION

All participants will be required to collect their provided equipment from their preferred local nursery of the options listed below. The competition receives significant support from both Diaco’s Garden Nursery and All Green Nursery & Garden who have aligned with the Show to have the competition equipment available for collection. The teams at all nurseries will be there to help participants with any questions that may have when they start planning their masterpiece.

EXCLUSIVE PARTICIPANT OFFERS – All participants will be eligible to receive the below discounts at their preferred collection location:

Diaco’s Garden Nursery – 10% off any additional purchases at all Diaco’s location when collecting the competition equipment
All Green Nursery & Garden – 10% off any plant purchases at all All Green locations when collecting the competition equipment

All participants will need to select their preferred pick-up collection when submitting their application.

Need some inspiration for your basket? The below images are entries from previous Shows.