Dad’s idea at the pub turned from ‘tiny seed’ to ‘huge spectacle’published at 12:51 BST
12:51 BST
Alistair Binney
Reporting from the championship
I’ve been speaking to Kevin Fortey, whose family first started the tradition of the giant vegetable competition.
“It started off in the 80s with a tiny seed and it’s mothballed now into this huge spectacle,” he says. He tells me his dad started the championship at the pub after a challenge to see who could grow the biggest pumpkin.
“And within two years, the pumpkins had got that big and people were coming from all over the UK”, Fortey says.
However, he does not feel a family pressure to continue the legacy of growing giant vegetables, and instead sees it as a delight.
But he acknowledges that it is stressful when having to battle the elements.
“We’ve had exceptionally warm weather this year in Wales,” he says.
The hotter weather did mean that he could grow different types of vegetables this year – including a tropical plant: the luffa, which weighed just over five kilos, or 11 lbs. He says it is the equivalent size to an adult house cat.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved over my growing
career, I’m only 48 and hopefully I’ve got a long time ahead,” he says.
“My dad would be
exceptionally proud of what I’ve achieved”.