The ultimate harvest festival gets under way this weekend as the RHS Malvern Autumn Show opens its doors for a two-day celebration of all things grow-your- own.

RHS Malvern Autumn Show

A highlight is the UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, where the country’s top vegetable growers vie for honours in growing the longest parsnip, fattest onion or heaviest pumpkin. Last year three world records were broken at the show. The longest beetroot, grown by Joe Atherton, measured 7.21m from nose to tail; the world’s heaviest cucumber weighed in at 12.9kg, ensuring grower David Thomas a place in the record books; and the world’s heaviest leek, grown by Paul Rochester, tipped the scales at an eyewatering 10.6kg.

As well as giant veg, you can enjoy the flower show season’s final fling before winter closes in. School children are showcasing vegetable sculptures; there’s expert guidance on growing fruit in the Orchard Pavilion and Hop Yard; and in the Vintage Village you can get dancing lessons from Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke.

Gardening Events in Autumn

There’s loads for all the family to enjoy – so buy your tickets today at www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/malvern-autumn-show and get inspired to come home and try it for yourself. Who knows, you might be one of the record-breakers one day!