Giant veg growers and world record holders do battle in Peterborough (From Smallholder)

Giant veg growers and world record holders do battle in Peterborough

2:48pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News

Let battle commence – world record breakers and giant veg growers from around the country will be weighing up the competition at one of the region’s best-loved horticultural contests later on this week.

Monster marrows, super-sized spuds and colossal cabbages will be among the giant vegetables of all shapes and sizes coming to the Autumn Show at the East of England Showground in Peterborough.

Growers from all over the country will be showcasing their heavyweight produce at the Show on Sunday October 14 – battling it out to be the longest, largest and heaviest.

Now in its fourth year, the Giant Vegetable Competition is one of the many popular attractions at the Show – with entries already up on last year, as more and more green-fingered growers get bitten by the gardening and allotment bug.

Northamptonshire gardener and giant vegetable grower Clive Bevan – whose skills have taken him around the world to advise growers in countries like China and Malaysia – is again helping to organise the competition, and will be overseeing the weigh-in of the vegetables on the day.

Clive, who has recently appeared on ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh Show, with his monster veg, said: “We are expecting a fantastic turnout, giving the success of the past three years. We’ve already secured Peter Glazebrook and Graham Tranter, respective growers of the recent world record breaking onion (18lbs) and most tomatoes on a single truss (304) to exhibit at the show.

“And we are hoping that Peter brings his record-breaking onion with him to display to visitors.”

Clive added: “It’s not a beauty contest! The vegetables don’t have to look pretty – it is all about the weight.”

The Autumn show runs from 10am until 4.30pm on October 14. For ticket and other details visit www.peterborougharena.com