And it is a problem that Lee Herrington now faces as he prepares for the task of moving the giant green squash he has grown from a seed at his Stourbridge allotment to one of the Midlands’ most prestigious vegetable shows later this month.
A green squash would normally weigh about 35 to 40lbs, but Lee reckons his weighs in at about 500lbs – just under a quarter of a ton.
Lee Herrington has grown a huge quarter ton squash in his allotment in Lye. Photo: Tim Thursfield
Lee, 54, has been growing vegetables since the age of 10, and will be displaying his massive produce at the Malvern Autumn Show, which opens on September 26 – posing him with the difficulty of how to transport it 35 miles down the road. But, thanks to an appeal from former MP Suzanne Webb and Councillor Ryan Priest, some local volunteers and businesses have stepped in with offers to help.
“I don’t want to move it until the very last moment possible, because once you separate it from the ground it will start to lose weight as it will be deprived of water,” he says.
Lee Herrington has grown a huge quarter ton squash in his allotment in Lye. Photo: Tim Thursfield
“I have been blown away by the support, and someone has agreed to provide me with a pallet to lift it on, so it can be hoisted into a van that somebody else has provided.”
Lee says the hobby is also a tribute to his father Cedric, who died from cancer in 2012.
“Just before he died, my dad made me promise to him that I would continue with it to keep my mum motivated,” he says.
“It’s part of our life now, it gives her good exercise, and she gets excited when we go to the shows.
“I know my dad will be looking down on me smiling.”
Lee Herrington see show the green squash he has grown at his allotment in Lye measures up. Photo: Tim Thursfield
Lee says he will be competing against many farmers, who have the advantage of the best soil, irrigation systems and poly-tunnels, whereas it is much more difficult growing on his allotment.
“I’m definitely up against it,” he says.
But Lee also says that genetics play a huge role, and the important thing is to chose the right seeds.
The other important ingredient is Lee’s time.
Lee Herrington has grown a huge quarter ton squash in his allotment in Lye. Photo: Tim Thursfield
“It takes up all your life, there is so much that can potentially go wrong,” he says.
“You have to make sure it doesn’t bet bitten by pests and disease, and you have got to protect it from foxes and badgers.”
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