Champion’s secrets revealed at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show
The world of growing giant vegetables has been one of closely guarded secrets and rituals… until now.
British record holder and author Kevin Fortey revealed the tricks of the trade at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, with talks marking the launch of three new novice classes. Aimed at gardeners who have never won a prize for super-sized specimens, the beginner classes invited entries for marrows, tomatoes, and runner beans.
Flower Show director Nick Smith said: “We have seen many records set here at Harrogate over the years and our champion growers are without a doubt among the very best in the world. The amazing array of monster specimens is incredibly popular with our 40,000 visitors, but there is always one very big question left hanging in the air – how do they get so huge?”
Growing giant vegetables – Family tradition
Kevin, from Cwmbran, South Wales, started growing giant veg as a boy with his father. Kevin and his family hold the British records for the heaviest marrow (77.56kg), bell pepper (560g) and field pumpkin (72kg).
He said: “Growing giant veg can be fascinating, rewarding and frustrating all at the same time. I learned alongside my late father, Mike, and am now passing on the knowledge to my son, Jamie. It is great to see novice classes being introduced at a major show like Harrogate. Despite the cloak and dagger reputation, we would all like to see new growers trying their hand at giant veg.”
Kevin gave talks on getting started with giant veg and on growing veg the hydroponic way.
National Onion Championships
There are 13 other giant veg classes, plus the annual world record weigh-in for the heaviest onion. Since the National Onion Championships started in 1983, 12 new world records have been set.
The record-holder is Birmingham’s Tony Glover, who topped the scales in 2014 with a whopper weighing 18lb 11oz (8.47kg).
For further information and to buy tickets for the latest show, visit www.flowershow.org.uk.
