0:00:04 > 0:00:08Whether it's beautiful cut flowers or delicious fruit and vegetables,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11we Brits love to grow our own.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14For 17 weeks, our gardeners have been raking,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17staking and cultivating their patches.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21And now it's the final, and there are only three gardeners left
0:00:21 > 0:00:24in the race to be crowned champion.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27This competition is anyone's for the taking.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29It's all to play for today.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31This week Jim wants to see not one
0:00:31 > 0:00:33but two specimens in the Grow challenge.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35A perfect cauliflower...
0:00:35 > 0:00:38This is difficult, this growing blinking cauliflowers.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42And straightaway we can see marks on the cauliflower.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45..and ten of their very best cape gooseberries.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49That's what we're looking for - a little golden gooseberry.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Jonathan is setting his toughest task yet
0:00:52 > 0:00:54in a supersized Make challenge.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Haven't really got a clue where to start.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- Can I have a peek on this side? - No, you can't!
0:00:59 > 0:01:01This is the final. Expectations are high
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and they certainly know where to hide.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07And it's a triple whammy in Eat, as Thane wants to see canapes,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09cocktails and confectionary.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13The only thing burning's going to be my desire to win the competition.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15So, do I lick or do I bite?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Just three challenges stand between our finalists and one of them
0:01:18 > 0:01:23being named the winner of The Big Allotment Challenge 2015.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25It's the final.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27The last thing they want to do is let themselves down today.
0:01:27 > 0:01:33The winner of The Big Allotment Challenge 2015 is...
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Welcome to the grand final of The Big Allotment Challenge.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57Just three gardeners remain in the race to be crowned champion.
0:01:59 > 0:02:0317 weeks ago Rob, Jo Jo and Sandra entered the walled garden
0:02:03 > 0:02:05for the first time.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07When we first started in the allotment,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11I honestly felt like I was probably the least experienced
0:02:11 > 0:02:14and I was always one step behind everybody else.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18I'm starting to now believe in myself more as a gardener
0:02:18 > 0:02:22and just believing that I can actually do this.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26I can't believe I'm in the grand final.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28It's fantastic to be in it.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31I wanted to be in it from the beginning, you know.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34I wanted to get this far, but to win the grand final...ah!
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I think all of us want to win, you know.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42To be honest, my aim's been to get through each week as it's come along.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44It's been week one - don't get booted out,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47week two - OK, got past week one, and just carry on.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49And then suddenly you get to week three and you're thinking,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52"Well, actually, I've got some quite good stuff and I may make it."
0:02:52 > 0:02:54And now it's actually here.
0:03:02 > 0:03:08Well, good morning, gardeners, welcome to the grand final.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12We started with nine gardeners - we're down to just the three of you.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19Tomorrow we will know which one of you is victorious
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and is the winner of The Big Allotment Challenge.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The first challenge, as always, is Grow,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28which is Jim's chance to look at everything you've produced
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and, because it's the final,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Jim wants you to present two specimens.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38He wants a single cauliflower and ten cape gooseberries,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41both of which must have been grown from seed.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Good luck and get picking.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I've chosen cauliflowers and cape gooseberries for the final.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01They're two crops that are really difficult to produce
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and you don't see many of them in the show benches
0:04:04 > 0:04:08around the country, simply because they're so difficult.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Here's Jim's guide to growing the perfect cauliflower.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Start the seeds off in small pots using seed compost.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19They'll grow quickly and will need potting on.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Put them in a cold frame, closing it at night,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and after a week's gone by,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27your cauliflowers will be ready to be planted out.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33Plant them deeply, about 60cm apart, and water well.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Cabbage white butterflies love to lay their eggs in cauliflowers.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Net them carefully or caterpillars could wipe out your crop.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Once the curds have started to develop,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47use some leaves to cover them over.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Sunlight turns the curds yellow,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53which is not what I want to see on my show bench.
0:05:00 > 0:05:0517 weeks ago, the gardeners began to sow their cauliflower seeds.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09My first cauliflower is called Graffiti.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It's a bright purple one.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So it's just something that's a bit different.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16I have grown cauliflowers before.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20One year I grew them and they were absolutely fantastic.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22I have grown broccoli
0:05:22 > 0:05:26but never cauliflower, so this is my first time.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Jo Jo grew up in Malaysia and didn't have a garden of her own
0:05:31 > 0:05:34until she moved here four years ago.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38When I first came over to the UK, our local supermarket
0:05:38 > 0:05:40didn't have any bok choy at all.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It was definitely one of the main decisions around why I decided
0:05:43 > 0:05:47to then start growing my own veg, and it turned out all right.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Rob's been gardening for 32 years
0:05:50 > 0:05:54and has an old family trick, using nettles to encourage growth.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It's just something easy that my grandad used to do.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00You just make a liquid that looks like cold tea.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03It's good for anything that likes nitrogen,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05so anything that's green and leafy like cauliflowers
0:06:05 > 0:06:07or anything that just is green.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Lettuces, anything like that, it's really good for.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I'm not going to hide the fact I'm making nettle tea from people,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14but I'm not going to go round advertising
0:06:14 > 0:06:16that I'm making free food for my plants, no.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Now that the cauliflowers have been sown,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22the gardeners turn their attention
0:06:22 > 0:06:26to the second part of the Grow challenge, cape gooseberries.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29So I've done my research on this cape gooseberry
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and I've read that they love, like, really poor soil.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Native to Brazil, cape gooseberry is a small, round fruit
0:06:37 > 0:06:41that is orange when ripe and encased in a brown husk.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Because they've got such a low germination rate,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I reckon I'm going to put five in that pot.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51That's one pot.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I don't even know, you know, what the plant's going to look like.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I don't know what the fruit's going to end up like. Oh, God.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02I'm literally just sowing some cape gooseberries.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I've never grown cape gooseberries before.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07I've grown tomatillos before, which are very, very similar,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09but they're a lot bigger.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Never, ever grown these cape gooseberries before.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14It's a new thing for me.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18My goodness me, they're flipping minute.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I won't need to put too much compost on top of these.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Now that the cauliflower plants are hardened off,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31they are strong enough to be planted out.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I've put some of my chicken poo in the bottom.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Sandra has been gardening for over 30 years.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43She lives on a smallholding with 80 chickens
0:07:43 > 0:07:45and has her own floral cutting garden.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51I think I listen to my gut instinct. I do listen.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I put myself in the position of the plants and think -
0:07:54 > 0:07:56what do they need? Where are they growing?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58You know, and try and think of it that way.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00I think I should have a good chance. I'm hoping.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05I can't see how I could let myself down but, you know,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08there could be somebody there better than me,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10it just all depends on the days.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Ten weeks to show day and gardeners are netting their cauliflowers
0:08:19 > 0:08:23to deter the cabbage white butterfly from getting in and laying its eggs.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28All you need it just one cluster of eggs and they can wipe out your crop
0:08:28 > 0:08:31within a matter of days, you know. And that's the last thing you want.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34So the netting is going to just kind of prevent them
0:08:34 > 0:08:38from getting anywhere near my cauliflowers.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43This is my nettle tea that's been fermenting for a few weeks.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49So this is to...I'm going to water my cauliflowers with it.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52My cauliflowers look really good and if they do win,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54it's got to be down the nettle tea, hasn't it?
0:08:58 > 0:09:01With the cauliflowers now protected, Jo Jo's thoughts
0:09:01 > 0:09:04turn to her cape gooseberries.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07They are not growing as well as they should be, I think,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09cos they are probably constrained by their pots.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11I just went to Sandra's greenhouse earlier
0:09:11 > 0:09:13and looked at her cape gooseberries.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15They've actually got fruit on them.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Got to just get cracking on these.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22I haven't got a great deal of room for cape gooseberries
0:09:22 > 0:09:25cos they grow so big, so I'm hoping I can fit them in the greenhouse.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30A month to show day and Rob is checking
0:09:30 > 0:09:33on his purple Graffiti cauliflower.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Look really good. Nothing's had a nibble on them.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Yeah, they all look really good.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43On her plot, Jo Jo hasn't been quite so lucky.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Eurgh! There's one down there!
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Just get off my cauliflower!
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Obviously, my netting wasn't as secure as it could have been.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57And it's a similar story for Sandra.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I've been looking at my caulis
0:09:59 > 0:10:02and I notice there's some caterpillar poo on them.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Somebody's had a right party there.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11No, we just hope that that gets a chance to dry out a little bit.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13This is difficult, this growing blinking cauliflowers.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- SHE HISSES - There's a culprit, just flew by.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Two weeks to show day and triple Grow winner Jo Jo
0:10:23 > 0:10:27is struggling to get her cape gooseberries to ripen.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Some of the other gardeners have had lots of cape gooseberry lanterns
0:10:31 > 0:10:33for probably a month at least.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38You know, cos I remember thinking four weeks ago, you know,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40when I saw Sandra's cape gooseberries I was thinking,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43"Wow, mine are really far behind."
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Well, they're not big.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49The lanterns are big but, look, they're tiny inside.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Sandra's got some...I can't remember what they're called
0:10:52 > 0:10:55but they taste of pineapple and they're really nice, really sweet.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57So she's one to watch.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02And that is golden, the way it's supposed to be.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05In fact, I think I should have a bite of it.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10That is lovely.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13That is just like ones I've eaten before.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24After 17 weeks of nurturing their cauliflowers and cape gooseberries,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26it's finally show day.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29It's a big cauliflower, isn't it? Bigger than my head.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33I've got to beat Jo Jo in the Grow. She's won three out of five already.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36It's a monster!
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Do you know, I'd really love to win on the Grow challenge
0:11:40 > 0:11:42because I haven't won one of those at all.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I'm going to get it back to my work station.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I'm up against Sandra and Rob who, everybody knows,
0:11:48 > 0:11:53are the most competitive gardeners in this whole allotment.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57There are two Best In Shows for the final Grow challenge
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and now the cauliflowers and cape gooseberries have been picked,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03it's time to get them ready for the show bench.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Get out of my cauliflower!
0:12:05 > 0:12:10As if the caterpillars weren't enough, got slugs and everything.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Right, that's it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15That's it. I'm going to wash it a bit.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Gardeners, that's it.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's time to bring your cauliflowers
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and your cape gooseberries to the show bench.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The cauliflower curds should be solid and unstained
0:12:38 > 0:12:42and free from blemishes, disease and pest damage.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46The ten cape gooseberries should be equally sized, unblemished
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and should have pale brown husks which indicate ripeness.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54When cut open, the berries should be golden all the way through.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01We're going to start with the cauliflower first.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05We want to see the curds, the individual florets,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10tight and cylindrical, and so far so good.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13The other thing we look at is the other way,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16to see there's no staining on the stalk.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So far, so good.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21But there's two more to go.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Right, now we're going to move on to the cape gooseberry.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28The first thing is that they need to be browning.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30That's a sure sign that they're ripening.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33And when I just gently prise that apart,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36well, I'm going to be brutally honest.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38- I don't want to see that.- Green.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40That is green, it's just not matured.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44But now the final test is to cut it down the middle...
0:13:47 > 0:13:52..and, as we suspected, it's green right the way through.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02I'm looking for the doming, which we've got.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05I'm looking for even cut round here with the leaf,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09to mirror the actual dome, which is fine.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12The leaves themselves are very, very healthy.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16One of the things that you need to do is to have tight curds.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21If you don't have a tight curd, then these little leaf nodules
0:14:21 > 0:14:26will start to creep through so unfortunately when you're looking
0:14:26 > 0:14:30for the perfect show cauliflower, you don't want to see that.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Now we move on to the cape gooseberry.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35That's what we're looking for.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37A little golden gooseberry.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Let's do the final test. Perfect.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45It's just ripe for putting in your mouth. Well done.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Look at that great big whopper!
0:14:55 > 0:14:58What a cracking head that is.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02And very interesting, the colour. Fantastic.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06And the florets are lovely and close.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Let's have a look underneath.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10And good, clean. No staining in there.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14And what are we looking at? A perfect cauliflower.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Well done.- Thank you.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Now, we move on to the cape gooseberry
0:15:19 > 0:15:22and I have a feeling when we open her up...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Still green.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- I think we know what's going to happen. It's just not matured.- Yep.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Judging over, it's now time for Jim
0:15:33 > 0:15:36to award his final two Best In Shows.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39The first one, the cauliflower.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43I think it's fairly obvious. There is only one that stands out.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- Rob, well done. - THEY CLAP
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Well done Rob, boy.- Thank you. - Well done.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53So, now we move on to the cape gooseberry.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56And again, rather like the cauliflower,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I'm afraid to say there's only one winner.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- Sandra, well done. - THEY CLAP
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Fantastic! I can't believe it!
0:16:06 > 0:16:08I've won Best In Show for my cape gooseberries.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Best In Show for cauliflower
0:16:11 > 0:16:13and cape gooseberries would have been amazing,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15but I knew that wasn't going to happen
0:16:15 > 0:16:17so I'm really pleased with the cauliflower.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I can't believe this week there were two Best In Show awards
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and I've missed out on them both.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Only two rounds remain until the experts will decide
0:16:29 > 0:16:31who will be crowned champion.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35In this next challenge, gardeners will be judged
0:16:35 > 0:16:39not only on how they grow flowers, but what they can make with them.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Gardeners, we're now on to your second challenge
0:16:43 > 0:16:45which is, of course, Make.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Which is overseen, as always, by Jonathan, our floral expert.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52This challenge tests your ability not only to grow flowers
0:16:52 > 0:16:55but also how you arrange them.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00And as this is the final, of course, we have a couple of surprises.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05As you know, Jonathan has asked you to grow a perpetual carnation,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09so he'd like you to present one stem of carnation in a vase,
0:17:09 > 0:17:16alongside two other stems of flowers you have not exhibited before.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18JO JO GASPS
0:17:18 > 0:17:22The very big surprise is enormous.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Jonathan wants you to make a floral arch.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28You have two hours to complete this challenge
0:17:28 > 0:17:30and once you've gathered everything you need,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33the clock will start as soon as you've got in to the greenhouse.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36So good luck. Get picking.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39JO JO WHINES
0:17:39 > 0:17:41She's off!
0:17:45 > 0:17:47I don't even know where to start with this.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52A perpetual carnation produces one long, straight stem
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and a large, big, bountiful head of flower.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01In contrast, a border carnation or a pink are often multi-flowered,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06smaller, shorter-stemmed, more bushier, much easier to grow.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Here's Jonathan's guide to growing perpetual carnations.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Buy young plants from specialist growers and plant them in small pots.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Keep them watered and for the best chance of success,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21place them into the greenhouse.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Once the plants are 15cm in height, they need stopping.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30This is done by nipping out the tips of each plant so that they can
0:18:30 > 0:18:33then produce side shoots, to avoid only getting one flower.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36When the roots have filled the pot, transplant into a bigger
0:18:36 > 0:18:39five-litre container with some free-draining soil.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Carnations have long, thin stems
0:18:41 > 0:18:45so it's vital you provide them with support.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49A framework of canes around the plant will stop them from flopping over.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Whilst they're growing,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54feed weekly with a balanced liquid fertiliser, like tomato food.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59To grow a perpetual carnation is really difficult.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01That's why it's so perfect for the final.
0:19:07 > 0:19:0917 weeks ago, the gardeners' thoughts
0:19:09 > 0:19:12turned to their young carnation plants.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17This is my horti-folder - it's just full of horti-ness.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22Full of just information and guides, how-tos, all kind of things
0:19:22 > 0:19:27on all the specimen plants and different flowers and things.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28It's quite useful.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31The carnations that I'm growing are called Ann Franklin.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Just like these - yellow, creamy with, like, red on the edges.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37They are more protected in the greenhouse
0:19:37 > 0:19:40so I'm going to grow them indoors.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44I only managed to get four of these perpetual carnations,
0:19:44 > 0:19:49and then I have also got some other ones that are pinks.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I'm pretty sure there's a difference
0:19:51 > 0:19:53between pinks and perpetual carnations.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55I think they're a different type altogether.
0:19:55 > 0:20:01These are carnations, they're perpetual flowering carnations.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06If I let them grow, they'll just get one flower on each
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and what I want to do is to cut it
0:20:08 > 0:20:11so that they send some more shoots up and then eventually I can say,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15"Right, it's a nice bushy plant now. I can let it grow."
0:20:15 > 0:20:17And it'll grow some more flowers on.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I've grown carnations before in pots,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23but I don't really grow them in the ground.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26I've got one called a Moulin Rouge,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28a pure white one called a Devon Dove,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31pure pink one called Lily the Pink
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and a scarlet red one called Lady in Red.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Just a week after stopping her carnations, Sandra,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46who is known as the flower lady of the allotment,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48has made a difficult decision.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50I can't keep them in the greenhouse which, ideally,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I'd have liked to have done,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55because the greenhouse is too warm for them.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58It's essential for the greenhouse to be warm for the other things that
0:20:58 > 0:21:02I've got in them, so they're having to come outside, unfortunately.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Not an expert flower arranger, but I think I have got a good eye
0:21:06 > 0:21:10for colours and I understand about getting it right with the type
0:21:10 > 0:21:13of leaf varieties that you want, you know,
0:21:13 > 0:21:18that complement the bouquets and things so I understand that.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20I think I understand that naturally.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29I seem to have this aphid problem everywhere in the greenhouse
0:21:29 > 0:21:33at the moment and I can see them all over my carnations,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35which is not good.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Aphids don't like mint.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Because I haven't got enough mint plants,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I'm just going to see whether...you know, I don't know.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46I've got these mint tea bags, which smell quite minty to me.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50I'm making sort of a makeshift bush shelter for them -
0:21:50 > 0:21:52it protects them from the rain.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55And if there's going to be days when it's really bad,
0:21:55 > 0:22:00I might try and make a shelter coming down the front as well.
0:22:00 > 0:22:07These are to stop the flowers from blowing about in the wind.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10I'm starting to keep things secret now.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13I've got to start getting serious now.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Ten weeks to show day and disaster strikes for one of Jo Jo's
0:22:19 > 0:22:21perpetual carnation plants.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Been growing these carnations in the greenhouse the whole while.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29It's possible that I made a mistake with that
0:22:29 > 0:22:31because it's been so hot
0:22:31 > 0:22:36and, obviously, this carnation didn't like the temperatures
0:22:36 > 0:22:41and has decided to give up and die.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50Just under two months to go and Rob is deadheading his carnations.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53If I left these flowers on, they'd go to seed
0:22:53 > 0:22:55and the plant would put all its energy into making seed,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57rather than producing new flowers.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00So if you take the flowers off just as they're opening up,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03then it puts into energy into the other flowers that are there
0:23:03 > 0:23:05but will also throw up more.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08So the more you deadhead, the more flowers you get.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Four weeks to show day and the gardeners are checking
0:23:14 > 0:23:17on the progress of their perpetual carnations.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21This is a very sturdy stem. That's a good stem, that is.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24I just hope that if this is ready too early,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27these are going to be flowering in time.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32I found out that people who grow carnations for the show bench,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35they grow something like 200 plants,
0:23:35 > 0:23:41just to get the perfect carnations to win the first prize.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46And here I am with two pots, barely three buds, you know?
0:23:46 > 0:23:51I think my chances aren't great, to be honest!
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Carnations need heat to help them flower,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58so the gardeners are hoping Mother Nature will be on their side.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Rely on the weather now to be a beautiful, glorious week,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03like we had the last few weeks.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I would be taking this top half off now
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and get as much light to my little babies as possible.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12But now, with the weather looking like this all the time,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15it's so changeable, I just daren't leave them.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20I'm trying to make a cloche for my carnations, just to try
0:24:20 > 0:24:22and protect them from the weather.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24THUNDERCLAP
0:24:24 > 0:24:27I'm trying to get this made before the storm does arrive cos
0:24:27 > 0:24:30otherwise, I think it might take off. Argh!
0:24:37 > 0:24:39It works!
0:24:44 > 0:24:46With one week until show day,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Jo Jo is still struggling to get her perpetual carnations to bloom.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54If I just keep staring at it, any second now,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56he's just going to burst open!
0:24:56 > 0:24:59I've been saying that for, like, a week now.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05I just really, really wish that it would just progress a little
0:25:05 > 0:25:10quicker and then I would actually see this flower.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I feel the pressure.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18After 17 weeks of hard work, it's time for the gardeners to
0:25:18 > 0:25:23pick their perpetual carnations and two other flowers.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26I'm asking them to present two other specimens in that vase.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30It's what they select to work with that carnation that's going to catch my eye.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I've had people nipping at my ankles all the way through this
0:25:34 > 0:25:37for the flower thing, you know.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41I haven't managed to win them all, which is a bit annoying.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43The one person that I haven't managed to impress is
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Jonathan in the Make, so I've somehow got to really, you know,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52push the boundaries today and make sure he gives me that award.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I'd like to think I can beat Jo Jo and Sandra.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I'm quite scared of Sandra and her flowers. She's the flower lady.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Which varieties are you growing here, Rob?
0:26:02 > 0:26:04These ones are the pinks, on the front
0:26:04 > 0:26:07and these perpetual ones are the dwarf mix.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- Dwarf mix? Sadly, these aren't perpetual.- Ah!
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- Oh, Rob. Don't worry.- Just keep picking.- Just keep picking.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17There's nothing I can do, is there? I've got to pick everything else
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and make sure I do the best at what I've got. At least I have a carnation to show,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24just not the one that Jonathan wants!
0:26:24 > 0:26:29As they head into the greenhouse for their final Make challenge,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Sandra and Rob are head-to-head, winning two each,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35but Jo Jo is still yet to win a Make.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37- It's bigger than me! - Rob, it's solid.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Oh, my God!
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Jonathan, have you got any last-minute
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- words of advice for the gardeners? - I have.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Gardeners, I'm looking for a symmetrical design that looks
0:26:47 > 0:26:49visually balanced.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I want you to ensure that there's no visible mechanics left.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55I really don't want to see any floral foam.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59You have two hours, and the clock starts now.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Before starting to tackle their floral arches,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07the gardeners select their three specimen flowers.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I've selected a scabious and a little pixie lupin
0:27:14 > 0:27:17and my perpetual carnation.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23I haven't really got a clue where to start.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26What the heck am I going to do now?
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Oh, God! This is going to take forever.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32With the flowers selected, they get to work on their arches
0:27:32 > 0:27:36by attaching up to 20 floral shovels for the flowers to go into.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41These are a multifunctional plastic florist's tool.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43We use them for lots of different things.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Obviously decorating an arch is one of them.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Two down, 18 to go.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Well, first issue with this, remember, is stability.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53They carry quite a lot of weight to them,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56so the distribution of them is crucial.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Talk about fingers and thumbs!
0:27:59 > 0:28:02I've got no experience of a floral arch whatsoever,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04so I'm just trying to think how I can...
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Do I want that there and things can flow down? Or do I want there?
0:28:09 > 0:28:12If I have it there, it's going to be too low, isn't it?
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Paddles secured, foliage is added to help create an even shape.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I'm trying to make it look sort of dreamy,
0:28:21 > 0:28:26but it might look more like Stig of the Dump when I finish!
0:28:26 > 0:28:28I have a series of mini plans
0:28:28 > 0:28:34and then the grand plan will reveal itself when it does!
0:28:34 > 0:28:38You go to a church, you see an arch, things sort of flow, don't they?
0:28:38 > 0:28:41I don't want it to look static.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45You're coming up for one hour, gardeners. One hour.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07At this stage, I would have expected to see nearly all this arch greened
0:29:07 > 0:29:12up, all this foliage worked into these frames, covering the mechanics.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Get a flippin' move on!
0:29:15 > 0:29:19I've never made a floral arch before.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23And I guarantee you this will be the last time I'm making a floral arch!
0:29:23 > 0:29:27I just want to make sure it looks good. I'm in the final.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31I can't...mess it up.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33I wish I was a bit taller.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36That would help, wouldn't it, if I was a bit taller?
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Now, the gardeners begin to add flowers.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43I think Sandra's already got flowers in, so I'm behind the flower lady!
0:29:46 > 0:29:49The most important thing is the flowers,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51at the end of the day, isn't it?
0:29:51 > 0:29:54I've got to cover the foam, if it kills me.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56They've all picked differently.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00And if I look at Rob's selection, he's picked bespoke flowers,
0:30:00 > 0:30:04he's picked the best. Sandra's really gone for it.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08She's absolutely ransacked that plot, she's raided it.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11But some of it's looking a little bit tired.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Jo Jo, I think, has adopted a bit of an approach of -
0:30:15 > 0:30:20I'll get as much as I can, but without a thought process behind it.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24Rob's at my heels. They're both at my heels, aren't they? Let's face it.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28At the end of the day, whoever wins this flippin' deserves it, I tell you now!
0:30:28 > 0:30:33Gardeners, you've got 30 minutes. Only 30 minutes left.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36I almost forgot carnations have got to go in it!
0:30:36 > 0:30:39So, better make sure there are carnations there, hadn't I?
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Oh, my God! You can see the foam!
0:30:42 > 0:30:44I need to just snip, put it in.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47And you're getting a bunch together there, Rob.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I can see you're cutting down to one size. So they're all a standard size.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52- Boomp, boomp, boomp... - Yeah want to get those...
0:30:52 > 0:30:57Yeah, rather than cut, do it again, come back, cut, do it again, come back.
0:30:59 > 0:31:00Right.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05You now, in this short space of time, need to ransack all that
0:31:05 > 0:31:07and work it into here.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09I've been told off by my schoolteacher.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13So much for trying to create a masterpiece, eh?
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Gardeners, three minutes. Three minutes left.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20God! Hurry up! It's not time to panic right now.
0:31:20 > 0:31:21Do not panic.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Where's my wire? Where's my wire?
0:31:31 > 0:31:32Argh!
0:31:38 > 0:31:43Gardeners, that's it. Time's up. Step away from your arches.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45- That's it.- Disappointed.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Rob, it was a tall order. Let's rub each other better.
0:31:49 > 0:31:50Oh!
0:31:50 > 0:31:53For the floral arch, Jonathan wants to see an arrangement that
0:31:53 > 0:31:56looks good from all angles and is visually balanced.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00There should be a selection of carnations on display
0:32:00 > 0:32:03and no visible mechanics.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05The specimen flowers should represent all
0:32:05 > 0:32:07they have grown on their allotment.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10The vase needs to include one perpetual carnation
0:32:10 > 0:32:13and two flowers that have not been exhibited before.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- Big, bold dahlia. Le baron?- Yeah.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Look at that colour! Quite sensational!
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Really vibrant high summer colour there.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39And then we move on to the rather delicate little scabious
0:32:39 > 0:32:42and look how fresh that centre is there.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Really like a little pin cushion,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47with all those little heads stabbing away there in the middle.
0:32:47 > 0:32:53You very nearly brought me a perpetual carnation with some colour.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55What you've actually brought me is a bud.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58A few more days, it would have started to break,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02so that's a good vase, but let's have a look at the arch.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08The floral arch is atmospheric, it's moody, it's evocative,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12it's summery and the amaranthus is the star performer.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15And that's a really good attempt. Well done, you.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24- Three interesting specimens.- Yeah.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28This pixie lupin's not previewed before, it's not been out.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30I think I can understand why
0:33:30 > 0:33:33because it's not a perfect specimen to present.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- It looks like it's trying to escape. - Yeah.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Moving on to the scabious here, nice fresh specimen,
0:33:40 > 0:33:44nice pronounced middle there, so a good strong profile to that flower.
0:33:44 > 0:33:45I must commend you.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49You have presented a perpetual carnation to the show bench.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53We can see some visible petal damage here, where it's starting to
0:33:53 > 0:33:57mature and age, but come on, let's go and look at the arch.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02Now, one thing I did emphasise was I don't want to see any visible
0:34:02 > 0:34:04mechanics.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Not looking bad on this side.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Can I have a peek on this side? Is that why you're guarding it, Sandra?
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- No, you can't! - SHE LAUGHS
0:34:12 > 0:34:13Ooh!
0:34:13 > 0:34:17A lot of floral foam visible there and then, if I move into this
0:34:17 > 0:34:23middle, we've got another huge chunk mirrored on this side here.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26These two big volumetric flowers like lilies...
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Those two placed like that don't look good.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31You need some repetition along here.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Beautiful sunflower.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45That's a really good specimen.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49And what I love about sunflowers is how those petals just
0:34:49 > 0:34:55radiate around that centre. Moving on...to this wonderful cosmos.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58That's a lovely thing to present to the show bench.
0:34:58 > 0:35:04And then, we've got the border carnation. Sadly, not a perpetual.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Sometimes with gardening, we do get the wrong end of the stick
0:35:08 > 0:35:11and you think you are growing the right thing but it wasn't.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Let's move on to the arch.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18With an arch, we do view it from the front
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and we want a nice crescendo of colour at the top.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24And here we've got it. Those wonderful orbs of sunflowers.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28I would have preferred to see a little bit more trailing material
0:35:28 > 0:35:31linking these placements together and you've started to do some ivy
0:35:31 > 0:35:37trails, which is starting to break up those rather solid heavy lumps.
0:35:37 > 0:35:42I don't want to see visible floral foam. We've got a nice chunk here.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46But it does make a statement and you've covered the vast
0:35:46 > 0:35:50majority of the arch, so that's a really good attempt.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53There is just one Best In Show up for grabs.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57Jonathan will be taking into consideration both the floral
0:35:57 > 0:36:00arch and the three specimen flowers.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Two people's have really caught my eye.
0:36:03 > 0:36:08Jo Jo, you've created something that's very moody,
0:36:08 > 0:36:13that's enticing me with the creative use of plant material and, Rob,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17you've brought three good flowers in the vase
0:36:17 > 0:36:20and you've used flowers throughout the arch.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23After all, my challenge is about growing flowers
0:36:23 > 0:36:26and then using those flowers creatively.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28And that is why, Rob, you are my Best In Show.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31APPLAUSE Well done, you.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Congratulations, Rob. And well done all of you.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43Tomorrow, you face Thane in her Eat challenge.
0:36:43 > 0:36:49After which, the experts will decide which one of you will be
0:36:49 > 0:36:54crowned the winner of this year's Big Allotment Challenge.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57You've had a long day. You need to get some sleep.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01We'll see you back here early in the morning. Off you go. Good night.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03- Good night.- Good night.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07I can't believe I've won Best In Show!
0:37:07 > 0:37:10The fact that he had some praise today and the fact that
0:37:10 > 0:37:13I managed to cover the floral foam, I was really happy about.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15I do feel cheated.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I hope tomorrow I'll have a better day,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20otherwise Rob will be winning, won't he?
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I don't want that to happen.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35It's the last day of the competition and before Jo Jo, Rob
0:37:35 > 0:37:38and Sandra face Thane in the Eat challenge,
0:37:38 > 0:37:43Grow expert Jim takes one last look around their allotments.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45- So this is Sandra's plot, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Certainly Sandra's really come to the fore with the flowers.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51You've just got to look around, the amount of colour,
0:37:51 > 0:37:55the range of plants she's got, she loves her flowers.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58She's called the flower lady because she's so good at them.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00I came into this competition wanting to win it
0:38:00 > 0:38:03and I do want to win, I've said it all along.
0:38:03 > 0:38:09- Here we are on Rob's plot.- Yes. - He never grows the obvious.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12He's very thorough, he does a lot of research
0:38:12 > 0:38:15and he'd done a lot of homework before he ever got here - how
0:38:15 > 0:38:17he was going to plan the plot out.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20No, he's another very worthy finalist.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I can't believe I'm in the final, still.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25And I can't believe it's now the final challenge,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29all this hard work that I've put in. It's down to this now, isn't it?
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Here we are. This is Jo Jo's plot. Look, here.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35- Ah, this is the Jo Jo Bible. - I've had a look in here.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39For instance - growing for show. Potato cultivation.
0:38:39 > 0:38:44Exactly, chitting them, the compost mix, and what did she do? Won it!
0:38:44 > 0:38:48I can hardly believe that I am in the final three people.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50The only thing standing between me
0:38:50 > 0:38:53and winning the prize are...well, Rob and Sandra, really.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57- All in all, we've got three cracking finalists.- Absolutely.
0:38:57 > 0:38:58They all deserve to be there.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04- Good morning, gardeners. - Morning.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07It's time for your final challenge - Eat.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10And, of course, this is your last chance to impress the experts before
0:39:10 > 0:39:12they decide which of you
0:39:12 > 0:39:16is the Big Allotment Challenge champion.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20For the Eat challenge, Thane would like you to present to her
0:39:20 > 0:39:24confectionery, canapes and cocktails.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26Now, one of your recipes must contain the variety
0:39:26 > 0:39:30of cape gooseberries or cauliflower that you presented to Jim,
0:39:30 > 0:39:32yesterday, in the Grow challenge.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36You have two and a half hours for the challenge
0:39:36 > 0:39:37and your time will start, as usual,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40when you arrive in the greenhouse with all your produce.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43Best of luck. Go and start your collecting.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49This final challenge gives the gardeners a chance to impress
0:39:49 > 0:39:52by using all the produce they've grown on their allotments.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Look at me taties! I'm in the final and look at the potatoes -
0:39:55 > 0:39:58- they're fantastic.- It's more of a personal thing for me.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01For six weeks, I've been trying to crack Thane and I've not been
0:40:01 > 0:40:04able to do it, so that's my plan, today - just crack Thane.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08It's the final challenge of the whole competition.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10My goodness, we're finally here.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13I've got to do a really good job, today.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Canapes, cocktails and confectioneries
0:40:15 > 0:40:18is the perfect challenge for the final.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20It tests an enormous range of skills.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23It gives the gardeners great scope to use their produce,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26and they can amaze and excite me.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Ingredients picked for the last time,
0:40:28 > 0:40:31the gardeners head into the greenhouse.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35Sandra and Jo Jo each have won a Best In Show for this challenge,
0:40:35 > 0:40:37but Rob is yet to impress Thane.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Gardeners, it is now time
0:40:40 > 0:40:43for the final challenge.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45You have two and a half hours.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Your time starts now.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Today, the gardeners must present 12 canapes
0:40:51 > 0:40:56and pieces of confectionery, and four glasses of their cocktails.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59They start by preparing their confectionery.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03I'm making my confectioneries, which are called cape roses.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06They're little, like, gummies, in the shape of roses,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09but they've got cape gooseberries inside.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12I'm weighing some berries and everything out that are going in,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14to make a syrup and, then, the syrup is set with gelatine.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I'm making my challenge bon-bons,
0:41:17 > 0:41:21which are cape gooseberries with coconut.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24You have to make, like, a jammy syrup type of stuff
0:41:24 > 0:41:27to bind the coconut together.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31I've decided to use the lavender from my allotment
0:41:31 > 0:41:33to go into the confectionery.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36It's actually a lavender and sunflower seed brittle.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Depending on how much syrup I get, I need between eight and ten leaves of
0:41:42 > 0:41:46gelatine, so I'm just putting them in to soak
0:41:46 > 0:41:47in some cold water now.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50When you're using gelatine, you have to be exact.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53You've got to soak it for exactly the right amount of time
0:41:53 > 0:41:56for it to make sure it's completely dissolved in water,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59the liquid, and you've got to make sure you've got the right amount.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Too soft and they won't be gummy bits,
0:42:01 > 0:42:03I won't be able to pick them up.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07- What are you doing?- This is the gelatine, yeah, this slimy gelatine.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09So, you used the sheets of it?
0:42:09 > 0:42:14Yeah, the sheets and I have to squeeze out the excess water.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16I know we're under pressure, but I can't let it boil
0:42:16 > 0:42:17because it won't set properly.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19I've never made my own jelly sweets,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21so I'm really looking forward to this.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27What I'm doing first is melting the sugar into the cape gooseberries
0:42:27 > 0:42:29before I bring it to boil.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31The cape gooseberry jam mixture
0:42:31 > 0:42:33will make up the centre of Sandra's bon-bons.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Once I've made this, this has to cool. That's the thing.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Jo Jo's lavender and sunflower seed brittle
0:42:40 > 0:42:42is bound together by caramel.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46I'm using both granulated sugar and light brown sugar.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48And that's going in.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53As I'm doing this, I just really want to make sure that I watch
0:42:53 > 0:42:57the temperature of this, as it's really important to get it right.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01Caramel can catch and burn within seconds. Jo Jo needs to keep
0:43:01 > 0:43:02a very close eye on it.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05The only thing burning's going to be my desire
0:43:05 > 0:43:07to win the competition, but, anyway.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Hey, Jo Jo. Why is this slow melting going on?
0:43:10 > 0:43:13Well, because the sugar has to dissolve completely
0:43:13 > 0:43:14before Jo Jo turns the temperature up, or
0:43:14 > 0:43:18the caramel will be not that...crack, it'll be crystallised.
0:43:18 > 0:43:19Ah.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25Sandra adds her cool jam mixture to the coconut.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Consistency is key. If too much jam is added,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30it won't bind properly.
0:43:31 > 0:43:36She's wrapping her cape gooseberry jam balls in fondant icing.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39I'm just going to test this, see if it works. Let's see.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47What I've done is I've put quite a lot of the cape gooseberry mixture
0:43:47 > 0:43:48into...
0:43:50 > 0:43:53..my coconut and it's too wet,
0:43:53 > 0:43:55and it's stopping the jam from binding it.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58So I'm going to remake a bit of the mixture.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02That's better. See how better than is? Right.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06Rob is now on to the final stage of his confectionery, pouring
0:44:06 > 0:44:11the syrup into moulds and adding the cape gooseberry centre.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14I knew this would take the longest, and they need to go in the fridge.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16They need to set - they need to set hard.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18So this is why this was the priority.
0:44:24 > 0:44:29Yeah, it's quite a tricky operation to get them in the bloody moulds,
0:44:29 > 0:44:31without giving yourself third degree burns.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34It's just one of those things where you have to get them in really
0:44:34 > 0:44:37quickly, and I have practised.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41And I think I also practised it with slightly less sunflower seeds.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47I'm just going to put them aside and let them cool down.
0:44:49 > 0:44:53Gardeners, would you believe, an hour has gone.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55An hour and a half to go.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57The next job is to make the canapes.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00Rob is using his prize-winning purple cauliflower.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03My canape is a white gazpacho, which is
0:45:03 > 0:45:07a chilled soup and it's got almonds and my cauliflowers in,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10and I know it's purple cauliflower, but once it cooks, it loses
0:45:10 > 0:45:12the colour so it goes white, so it should all be white.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17The canape I'm making, today, is called Summer Harvest On A Spoon,
0:45:17 > 0:45:21so it's basically a harvest of vegetables
0:45:21 > 0:45:24from my allotment, and it's all going to be on the spoon.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32I am just putting together my dressing.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35It's really a little bit of a Vietnamese-inspired
0:45:35 > 0:45:39style of salad dressing, so it has fish sauce in it.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45For her canapes, Sandra is making vegetable fritters.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49In my fritters, I'm putting potato, courgette,
0:45:49 > 0:45:52a bit of pattypan squash,
0:45:52 > 0:45:56and a little bit of this green cauliflower floret,
0:45:56 > 0:45:58and shallots.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01It's just a nice simple little bite to eat, you know,
0:46:01 > 0:46:05rather than a complicated canape.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Over at his bench, Rob's having a spot of bother with the
0:46:08 > 0:46:11purple cauliflower he wants to use in his white gazpacho.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13At the minute, this looks like something you'd
0:46:13 > 0:46:16cook for Halloween, a nice blue soup.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19You wouldn't believe there's no food colouring in that at all.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22I thought something like that may happen, so I boiled
0:46:22 > 0:46:24the white cauliflower off my allotment as well.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29I've just added the salt and, once the sherry vinegar goes in,
0:46:29 > 0:46:31I'll give it a little taste before the olive oil goes in,
0:46:31 > 0:46:33just to make sure it's seasoned right.
0:46:33 > 0:46:37Because it's cold, you've got to make sure the seasoning's good on it
0:46:37 > 0:46:38because it won't hide anything.
0:46:43 > 0:46:48We haven't got much time to go, so I'm just trying to hurry it up now.
0:46:48 > 0:46:49I'm never like this at home -
0:46:49 > 0:46:52I just bung it in, but this is a show bench.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55Got to make sure that it's...
0:46:55 > 0:46:57really, really good.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01I think Rob's got the right idea, in terms of presenting the canape,
0:47:01 > 0:47:05because that looks more like a canape than this does, you know.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Gardeners, you've got 15 minutes left.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13With the canapes and confectionery underway,
0:47:13 > 0:47:16the gardeners move on to their cocktails.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19Right cocktail, cocktail, cocktail. Let's go, let's go.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22This is my berry blush cocktail,
0:47:22 > 0:47:26which is vodka, orange liqueur
0:47:26 > 0:47:29and black cherry liqueur.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38I'm making cape gooseberry Bellinis.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39I've got to strain out the seeds
0:47:39 > 0:47:43because there's quite a lot of seeds in these cape gooseberries.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45SHE YELPS
0:47:45 > 0:47:47Sorry! Sorry, sorry.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52That's interesting - it didn't go like that at home.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54God, it looks horrible! Oh, my God.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58Look at my glass, it's just a mess.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Sandra is making a mint chocolate mojito,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04with chocolate-flavoured mint grown on her allotment.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07Now, I don't want...
0:48:07 > 0:48:10to overdo the chocolate mint,
0:48:10 > 0:48:14I just want to put a bit in to taste it.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23One minute! One minute left.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45Gardeners, that's it!
0:48:45 > 0:48:48Sandra, you have completed...
0:48:49 > 0:48:52..your final challenge. You can do no more.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58One, two, three.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03To be awarded Best in Show, Thane is looking for the gardener who
0:49:03 > 0:49:07uses the produce grown from their allotment most imaginatively,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09to create memorable party food.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14First to be judged is Sandra.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18Tell me about your canape, Sandra. What's in it?
0:49:18 > 0:49:21Well, it's a potato and a vegetable fritter.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24Very nice. Nicely fried on both sides.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27I like that. It's cooked on the bottom and on the top.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35I would have preferred a little more salt and pepper in there,
0:49:35 > 0:49:36or a little more seasoning,
0:49:36 > 0:49:38and I think you would have had something pretty good.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41So, Sandra, your cocktail, what's it called?
0:49:41 > 0:49:43It's a mint choc mojito.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45There doesn't look to be any chocolate in this.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49No, it's the mint that I grow that tastes of chocolate.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51The chocolate hits afterwards.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58It is quite sharp. The blitzed mint leaves do rather get in the way.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00They sort of coat your tongue a little bit.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03It's just not quite there, but it's a very good attempt.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06- OK.- Now your confectionery.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09Those, Thane, are my challenge bon-bons.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16- I don't think I can taste the cape gooseberry.- No!
0:50:16 > 0:50:17Because it's very sweet
0:50:17 > 0:50:19and the coconut's got quite a good flavour, too.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23A very pleasant confectionery, but not one, I'm afraid, that's
0:50:23 > 0:50:27recognisable as being cape gooseberry.
0:50:28 > 0:50:29Next up, it's Rob.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34- They look lovely.- Thank you.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38Very, very visually pleasing. So, well done on that.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40I want to start with your canape.
0:50:40 > 0:50:43White gazpacho is a very traditional dish that uses almonds
0:50:43 > 0:50:46and breadcrumbs, and yours has all those things in.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53It's a little bland.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55- OK.- Cauliflower's a very bland vegetable.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58We've got cucumber - not a lot of flavour.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00Bread - almost no flavour.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03Almonds - again, very light in flavour.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06We needed a stronger hit of flavours.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Tell me about your cocktail.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10My cocktail is called Basil Berry Blush.
0:51:10 > 0:51:15This is a very beautiful colour and smells wonderfully fruity.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17The lovely thing about fresh strawberries is
0:51:17 > 0:51:19they have such a magnificent aroma.
0:51:23 > 0:51:24Yes, that's lovely.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27Very nice indeed. It has a good round flavour.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29I can taste the berries.
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Now, on to your confectionery. This is all about getting the gelatine
0:51:32 > 0:51:34right and the syrup right, isn't it?
0:51:34 > 0:51:38It should have the consistency of a gummy sweet. Right.
0:51:41 > 0:51:45The consistency's right. They are firm but not too chewy.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48I like the little hint of cape gooseberry in the middle.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52My one thought is that while they're very, very pretty,
0:51:52 > 0:51:54they're not quite big enough.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57Finally, it's Jo Jo's turn to be judged.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Jo Jo, tell me about your canape.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04It's called Summer Harvest On A Spoon.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11That's very good. It's got a lovely Vietnamese kick. I mean those
0:52:11 > 0:52:15lovely flavours that you associate with Far Eastern salads.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19Now, this is a Bellini made from cape gooseberries.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22Looks very nice, very attractive colour.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30It's very good. The mixture of cape gooseberry and prosecco works very
0:52:30 > 0:52:34well. You haven't over-sweetened it, which can be a bother.
0:52:34 > 0:52:38Now, your confectionery and these lollipops are very visually pleasing,
0:52:38 > 0:52:41and I don't know when I last had a lollipop.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45So, do I lick or do I bite? That's the question.
0:52:49 > 0:52:54Very good texture. The lavender works well - it's not too heavy,
0:52:54 > 0:52:57too strong, because sometimes it can be a bit antiseptic-tasting.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59That's a very good piece of confectionery, Jo Jo.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01Very good, indeed.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Now Thane has tasted all the produce,
0:53:05 > 0:53:09she must decide who will win Best In Show.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Before I award my Best In Show,
0:53:11 > 0:53:14I want to say - what a brilliant display.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18And what a wonderful use of all that produce you've been growing,
0:53:18 > 0:53:21and my Best In Show, today,
0:53:21 > 0:53:23goes for that amazing salad.
0:53:25 > 0:53:26- Jo Jo.- Jo Jo!
0:53:26 > 0:53:29CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:53:31 > 0:53:34Well done. Well done. Very good.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36Congratulations, Jo Jo.
0:53:36 > 0:53:41So Jo Jo won the very last Best In Show of the competition.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44You have all worked exceptionally hard,
0:53:44 > 0:53:46for months on end,
0:53:46 > 0:53:49and now all Jim and Jonathan and Thane have to do
0:53:49 > 0:53:53is decide which of you will be
0:53:53 > 0:53:56the Big Allotment Challenge champion.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01Would you please all go back to your allotments while they decide?
0:54:06 > 0:54:09Winning this competition would mean the world to me,
0:54:09 > 0:54:14because it would prove to me that I actually managed to do this,
0:54:14 > 0:54:16single-handedly, you know,
0:54:16 > 0:54:19on my own accord.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22Be over the moon. It would mean the world to me.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25But all three of us deserve to win,
0:54:25 > 0:54:29but there can only be one winner, and hopefully it's going to be me.
0:54:29 > 0:54:34If I won this, it would mean...it'd mean a heck of a lot to me.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37It'd be fantastic. It would be, probably,
0:54:37 > 0:54:41one of the best things that's ever happened to me, to win this.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46Well, you three are judge and jury.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49You've got to decide not only
0:54:49 > 0:54:52what's happened over the last two days, but how well Rob
0:54:52 > 0:54:55and Jo Jo and Sandra have performed over the entire six weeks.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Jim, who's done the best for you?
0:54:57 > 0:55:01Well, that's fairly easy - it's Jo Jo. She's won three Grows.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04She was really close yesterday with that cauliflower.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07She really does try with her vegetables.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09She does, and I agree she tries with the flowers,
0:55:09 > 0:55:12but sadly she's never won a Make challenge for me.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Her flavours are amazing and they've been consistently good.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17She's a clever cook.
0:55:17 > 0:55:18Uses interesting ingredients,
0:55:18 > 0:55:22isn't frightened of pushing the boat out quite a way.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25Rob produced stuff that looked incredible.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29The cauliflower yesterday that Rob produced was absolutely...
0:55:29 > 0:55:31what a time to produce one like that.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Absolutely stunning.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36But he's never won an Eat challenge for me.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39I thought it was close, today. It looks beautiful,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41and meticulous attention to detail,
0:55:41 > 0:55:44that's just bland.
0:55:44 > 0:55:46But he's been consistently good for me, Thane.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49Each week, he always brings something so creative.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51He's a creative person.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Jonathan, what about Sandra for you?
0:55:53 > 0:55:56Sandra's a fabulous flower grower. She grows brilliant flowers.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58They're all there on her allotment,
0:55:58 > 0:56:01and she has won a Make challenge twice. Timing's her issue.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05Now, funnily enough, timing for me is good.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08And, in fact, she's won at least one of each of our challenges,
0:56:08 > 0:56:10so she is a good all-rounder,
0:56:10 > 0:56:13but what I feel about Sandra is she hasn't really come on. I was hoping
0:56:13 > 0:56:17she'd develop and I was hoping, on the cooking, especially, that she
0:56:17 > 0:56:22would improve week on week, and in fact her best week was week two.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24- But she's an all-rounder.- Yes.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27I'm going to move away while you make this decision.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38Gardeners, well done.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41To share in your success, we have a little surprise for you.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49It's the old gardeners and their finalists' friends and family.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02My money is on Rob. I think he's a terrific gardener.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04He's been strong all the way through.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08There's no doubt about it, Jo Jo put the work in
0:57:08 > 0:57:10and it really has paid off.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13It's got her to where she is now in the final.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15I mean, I think Sandra's got a good chance to win it,
0:57:15 > 0:57:19but then they have all got good qualities in different areas,
0:57:19 > 0:57:22so I wouldn't want to be one of the judges.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26Our experts have thought long and hard about this.
0:57:27 > 0:57:29It's a very difficult decision.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33But I can now reveal that the winner
0:57:33 > 0:57:38of the Big Allotment Challenge 2015
0:57:38 > 0:57:40is...
0:57:43 > 0:57:45..Rob!
0:57:45 > 0:57:47CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:57:53 > 0:57:55Well done! Very well done.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01It's been a really, truly amazing experience.
0:58:01 > 0:58:04One that I will probably, you know, never have again,
0:58:04 > 0:58:07and I'll really cherish this garden. I'll miss it.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09I would have liked to have won.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11Of course I'd have liked to have won,
0:58:11 > 0:58:13but Rob's won so, hey, here's to Rob!
0:58:13 > 0:58:15It's been amazing all the way through
0:58:15 > 0:58:18and winning's just been like the icing on the cake.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20It's crazy. It's like nothing else.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22You couldn't pay for this experience.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26The Big Allotment Challenge winner, 2015.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28That's coming home and that won't be used.