When it comes to growing daffodils, Ken Harrop and Alan Brierley are in a prize-winning league of their own.

The beautiful narcissus blooms nurtured at Denton Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society’s Wilton Allotments plot have swept the board taking the top honours in some of the country’s most prestigious shows.

Past masters Ken, from Dane Bank, and Alan, of Mottram, made a triumphant return in the first competitive season since the Covid pandemic.

After picking up no fewer than 15 first prizes and the best bloom accolade at Southport spring show, the pair went on to win the main ‘12 blooms’ amateur class in the Royal Horticultural Society show at Wisley Gardens near Heathrow. They also retained the Richardson Trophy which they won last time round in 2019.

More successes followed at the Daffodil Society show at Birmingham Botanical Gardens where their ‘Narrative’ bloom was judged the best in show from more than 1,500 exhibits. 

Finally there was a double win in the amateur and professional ‘12 blooms’ categories at the Harrogate spring show.

Although daffodils grow in large numbers almost anywhere, experts Ken and Alan take a much more specialised approach. 

“One thing to point out is that daffodils are not always yellow,” said Ken. “They can also be white, orange or red. There are 13 sub divisions of narcissus which is the official botanical name.”

For show entries the two friends go for single flowers on stems ‘usually yellow and white’.

They have also nurtured from seed a new variety of daffodil known as Denton’s Choice. Bulbs can be ordered from a specialist retailer and it is hoped they will eventually be more widely available.

Now the daffodil season is over, Ken and Alan are planting out chrysanthemums and dahlias which will be in bloom for the Denton society’s September show at Denton West Community Centre and the RHS Bridgewater (Worsley) late show in November.

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper