Expert Mansfield Woodhouse grower Joe Atherton (above) has claimed two more world records for his giant vegetables.

Three new world records were set for vegetable growing at The Grow Show: On Tour event in Mansfield, hosted by plant nutrient and growing medium brand CANNA UK and champion grower Medwyn Williams.

The Grow Show: On Tour offered UK growers the opportunity to weigh in or exhibit their show displays at events in Mansfield; Piddington, Oxfordshire; and Anglesey, North Wales.

Show displays were judged to National Vegetable Society standards by Medwyn and his co-judge, John Bebbington.

Joe — already a decorated, record-holding legend in the growing community — broke the record for the world’s longest beetroot, measuring 8.56m, and the record for longest salsify with a 5.57m specimen.

Neil Hands (above) claimed the world record for the heaviest red cabbage, with his grow tipping the scales at 31.6kg.

Nico Hill, from CANNA UK, said: “We’re over the moon that three new world records were set by our entrants.

“Joe Atherton is a well-known name in the growing community, with lots of awards and records to his name already ­— including his first-prize giant onion from last year’s CANNA UK National Giant Vegetable competition, which was grown using BIOCANNA nutrients and growing media.

“It was clearly a really successful season for Neil Hands as well, with his red cabbage smashing the previous world record by a huge 8.4kg. His 31.6kg entry was an incredibly impressive specimen and we congratulate him, Joe and all our entrants, not just on their excellent entries, but also their cooperation and support in the delivery of a safe event for the growing community.

“Growers up and down the country had been working towards the usual weighing events throughout the harvest season, so it was important to us to give them the chance to showcase their hard work, despite all the usual shows being cancelled, by delivering a Covid-secure event.

“To make sure this was possible, the team worked very hard to create a safe schedule of events.”

As well as the usual show vegetable categories, The Grow Show: On Tour incorporated a junior and family fun category for those who may have turned to growing projects in lockdown.

Entries were encouraged for sunflowers, garden on a plate and vegetable animals, with the hope of finding champion growers of the future.