23
Sept
Giant vegetables smash UK records at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show
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A pumpkin weighing almost 150kg was among the exhibits at the three-day Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, which ended on Sunday (September 21).
Thousands of people visited Newby Hall, between Ripon and Boroughbridge, for the seasonal showcase of flowers and giant vegetables organised by the North of England Horticultural Society.
The giant vegetable competition has become one of the highlights of the gathering.
Showing for the first time at the event, Michael Wilson from Peterlee won heaviest pumpkin for his epic entry, weighing in at 149.45kg.
Chris Marriott from Mansfield won heaviest carrot, weighing in at 21lbs or 9.5kg and tomato (8.44lbs/3.8kg), beating the UK record in both categories. He also won heaviest beetroot (45lbs/20.4kg).
The National Onion Championships saw Stephen Purvis of Murton, Co Durham triumph with the heaviest trio of onions at 22.6kg/49.7lbs and single onion 8.8 kg/19.4lbs – narrowly missing the 8.97kg world record held by Guernsey’s Gareth Griffin and recorded at Newby Hall in 2023.
Chris Marriott from Mansfield with his UK record beating carrot and tomato.
Michael Wilson from Peterlee won heaviest pumpkin, weighing in at an incredible 149.45kg.
More than 5,000 autumn blooms from specialist growers and societies were on display. For the second consecutive year, the award for best in show went to Crewe-based Plantagogo for its display of heuchera, heucherella and tiarella. Other show highlights included the National Dahlia and National Chrysanthemum Northern Championships, with the National Dahlia Society winning Best Specialist Society at the show.
Newby Hall's gardens opened for the event and the country house was decked with floral installations designed by Jonathan Moseley.
Show director Nick Smith said:
Our fifth autumn show in the magnificent setting of Newby Hall really delivered the wow factor. Our incredible lineup of growers overcame the many challenges presented by the hottest weather on record to produce some spectacular displays. Together with our installations and live stage events, visitors enjoyed a stunning autumn celebration and a thoroughly inspirational weekend.
Knaresborough Horticultural Society was among the exhibitors.
Geoff Gardener, chairman of the Northern Committee of The National Dahlia Society which won Best Specialist Society at the show.
The autumn flower show is one of two flower shows hosted annually by the North of England Horticultural Society with the spring flower show taking place in Harrogate in April.
Profits from the shows are used by the NEHS to deliver horticultural community activities as part of its charitable remit, supporting the work of specialist societies and groups, and charitable horticultural organisations.
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