A VERY big secret in the gardening world is set to be revealed at this year’s Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.

Organisers say the recipe for success in the cloak and dagger world of giant vegetables has long been the stuff of legend.

But now, for the first time, visitors to the famous Harrogate event will be able to find out just how it’s done and even have a go themselves.

“British record holder and author, Kevin Fortey, will reveal the tricks of the trade in special talks on how to get started with giant veg to mark the launch of three new classes for novice growers,” said a spokeswoman.

“Aimed specifically at gardeners who have never won a prize for super-sized specimens, the beginner classes will invite entries for monster marrows, tremendous tomatoes and rambling runner beans.”

Flower Show director Nick Smith said: “We have seen many records set here at Harrogate over the years and our champion growers are without doubt among the very best in the world.

“The amazing array of monster specimens is incredibly popular with our 40,000 visitors, but there is always one very big question left hanging in the air – how do they get so huge?”

He said the man with all the answers was local council officer Kevin Fortey, from Cwmbran, South Wales, who started growing giant veg as a young boy alongside his father and now, aged 39, held the British records for the heaviest marrow, weighing 77.56kg, bell pepper (560g) and field pumpkin (72kg).

Kevin said: “Growing giant veg can be fascinating, rewarding and frustrating all at the same time.

“It is great to see novice classes being introduced at a major show like Harrogate because, despite the cloak and dagger reputation, we would all like to see new growers trying their hand at giant veg.”

Kevin will be giving talks on getting started with giant veg at 11am on Friday September 15 and Saturday September 16. At 1pm on the Saturday, he will also give a talk on growing veg the hydroponic way.

In addition to the new novice categories, there will be 13 other giant veg classes, plus the annual world record weigh-in for the heaviest onion.

For more information about the show, go to www.flowershow.org.uk or call 01423 546157.