Meet the marrow that's not destined for the pot
Avid gardener Bill Kerswell keeps thinking he will eat his monster marrow but has put off preparing the dish for a staggering 12 months.
Ever since he grew the bush marrow from seeds last year he has been keeping a watchful eye to make sure no-one inadvertently dices it up and eats it.
Now, his 13-year-old granddaughter Olivia is also ensuring the marrow is safe and sound, although she has now decided to try her hand at growing vegetables in her grandfather's veg plot at Picklescott, near Shrewsbury.
Marrows are members of the squash family. In 2005 the record-breaking marrow was 62 kilograms, but this was overtaken in 2008 by a record-breaking 63 kilogram marrow, grown by Ken Dade and entered in the annual National Amateur Gardening Show in Somerset.
Mr Kerswell's marrow is of the bush marrow variety – which is bred to produce fruits of approximately three quarters the size of standard marrows. Mr Kerswell said: "The marrow grew from seeds I planted from a Mr Fothergill's packet of bush marrow seeds. It just kept growing and growing and now it is two foot long– and it is now orange.
"It was green at the time it was growing but over time it has turned orange. I don't think it would taste too good, to be honest."
Do you have any giant or unusual garden vegetables? If so, tell us about them by contacting the newsdesk on (01952) 242424 or email ketley.newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk
