Autumn success with Mr GiantVeg

Over the past few years, generally, our growing seasons have become much longer and the harvests have kept coming until late October/early November. 

Bumper Harvests from the GiantVeg garden

In our garden, we are still harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers and a bumper crop of chillies.  This year we extended our Quadgrow, and GoGro self-watering system and this helped to keep our plants nourished throughout the heatwave.

Mr GiantVeg and Chris Fowler in the Keder Greenhouse

We’ve been able to maximise our bumper crops by turning our fresh ingredients into pasta sauces.  A really simple, cost-effective way to eat healthy, home grown ingredients.  I’ll be adding the recipe on our Instagram 

Bumper crop of Chillies

In February of this year, I applied to challenge the tallest potato plant record of 1.45m which was held by a Belgian grower.  Our application was accepted and in May I planted a number of potato plants in small pots with the aim of bringing another Guinness World Record home to the UK. 

In early August, we secured our 6^th Guinness World record for growing the World’s Tallest Potato Plant.  This measured 2.1 metres.  The potato was grown inside our Keder Greenhouse and nourished with Plant Start, Instant Compost Tea and watered regularly, especially during the heatwave where temperatures reached up to 50oC

Guinness World Record Tallest Potato Plant - 2.894m (9.3ft)

In late September, we travelled to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, to attend the UK Giant Vegetable Championships.  There were over 550 entries at the championships, a record in itself.  We managed to secure First Place with our Cantaloupe Melon along with a handful of other prizes.  The most notable achievement was securing and extending our Guinness World Record Tallest Potato plant with a new plant measuring 2.894m 9.3ft.  This was a challenge in itself taking up to the showground in the estate.  It just managed to fit into the car.  This is now our 7^th Guinness World Record title.  

Transporting the Guinness World Record breaking Tallest Potato plant in the back of the car! 

Our Giant Cucumbers have grown incredibly well this year and we managed to grow one measuring 36 inches long in a Go Gro hydroponic system.  This system is gravity fed and is a self-watering system.  The plants are grown in a 25 litre pot which contains coir (from coconuts) along with our mycorrgiantveg which encourages a mass root system, a healthier plant and bigger fruits.  A number are still growing and we hope to get some even bigger fruits by the end of the season.

Giant cucumbers and a fluffy little helper!

As we enter the cooler, darker nights, it’s time to take advantage of this time to prepare the gardens and greenhouses for the Winter.  We’ve already started to power hose and dig over our cold frame and prepare the soil for the winter.  The glass and frame has been power hosed with the Stiga HPS 345 R pressure washer and we will shortly be sowing our green manures of field beans and vetch.  This will provide a nitrogen fix for the soil as well as providing rich organic matter in the Spring.

STIGA HPS 345 R pressure washer - ideal for cleaning greenhouses and cold frames for winter.

Some people ask what we do with the fruits and vegetables after the events.  The Melon will be going along to a primary school to feed a whole class.  It smells amazing.  This year, we are again, going to be providing a marrow to the local foodbank where it will be distributed in slices. There should be plenty to go around the local community.

The Movie called Swede Caroline directed by Brook Driver and Finn Bruce, will be released over the coming weeks and is a mockumentary film about competitive giant vegetable growers.  It was an honour to be a part of this movie, providing advice and guidance on the Giant Vegetable growing processes - so look out for that.  

For all your gardening jobs for October and beyond read part two of our Autumn blog.

In the meantime - Happy Halloween from @GiantVeg