Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

The world record for worlds heaviest onion was broken by Tony Glover from Derbyshire with his 18lb 11 1/5oz vegetable and Joe Atherton from Mansfield broke the British record for the longest runner bean.

He said: “It is important that giant vegetable growers come to events like this and keep the tradition going.”

Elsbeth Miller from Harrogate visits the Flower Show every year, and hopes to pass the tradition into her grandson, two-year-old Jacob who seemed a bit bemused by the giant marrows.

Mrs Miller said: “We come every year and we love it though it is the first year we have brought Jacob, he seems a bit confused, most of the vegetables are bigger than him.”

Goldsborough CE Primary School teacher, Debbie Handslip arranged a trip for year four and five pupils.

She said: “This is the first time we have been, and it is only down the road. The children are learning all about the science of growing vegetables and we will do an art project based on the trip and the colours of the flowers.

“The children seem to really enjoy it, they are learning a lot.”

Knaresborough based Wack’s Wicked Plants was awarded a Gold Award for their display of carnivorous plants.

Gardener Peter Walker said: “We have won gold for the first time in Harrogate, we have been winning gold at other shows but this is a bit of a step up. It is so prestigious and its our local show so it feels like a really big success.”

Fellow Gold award winner, Sue Huntley travelled from Hartside near Alston in Cumbria. She said: “We have been coming to Harrogate for the shows for 35 years, it is the premier show in the North and attracted very keen gardeners. There is so much to see and do.”

Don Billington from Every Picture Tells a Story won the Best in Show award.

He said: “Harrogate is the exhibitors favourite show. It has the friendliest people and the best set up of any of the flower shows. It is great to win against the standards here, they get higher every year.”

It is not just vegetables and flowers keeping the crowds entertained.

The Flower show boasts a huge range of food stands including Davills of Ripon bakery.

Shirley Davill said: “We really enjoy doing the shows, we have regular customers from all over the country who come to Harrogate every year so it is nice to see the same faces.”

Mayor of Harrogate, Coun Jim Clark said the show was an important boost for the town.

He said: “It brings people to Harrogate and shows that Harrogate is the floral capital of Yorkshire, if not the UK.

“We take for granted that we have spectacular floral displays in the Valley Gardens and around the town, and here you get to see people from all over the country and how much work it takes.”