That will take some beeting!

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

A gardener stunned competition organisers when he unveiled this giant root vegetable which weighed in at – a staggering 63.96kg (141lb). the monster fodder beet, or Manglewurzle, which normally only grow to a few inches high, measures 3ft tall and was grown with a lot of ‘’love and care’’ in an allotment.

Owner Doug Stevens, who specialises in giant vegetables, entered the mammoth specimen - a relative of the beetroot - into a competition in Helston, Cornwall. It was so big the show’s judges were unable to weigh it in their normal fashion by standing on a set of bathroom scales with the entry in their arms.

Doug, 71, of Helston, said the trick was to add rotting seaweed to the earth surrounding the vegetable. Retired agricultural adviser Doug said: ‘’it grew with a lot of love and attention. I just love growing things in my garden and greenhouse.’’

The heaviest on record was grown by Piet de Goede in Holland in 2005 and weighs 71.05kg (156lb 10.24oz).

today is mass suicide because of this.’’

6. Working: ‘’Unemployment has been proven to cause chronic disease and mental health problems.  Retirement at 60 or 65 is a huge wastage of potential and can damage health and finances. I still work at 92 and I’m looking for more work.’

are ill it is put down to old age. It is not, it is because they are not working. ‘’retirement at 60 or 65 is a waste of potential; it can damage your health and finances. We have to find ways to incorporate people of that age into the work force.

‘’there is an enormous potential in the aged that is unused.’’

Dr Eugster, who has two sons, is reluctant to say he feels younger or fitter than before. But he said: ‘’I feel different. I can’t compare that to when I was younger because I can’t remember how I felt 20 years ago but I know I feel different.

‘’one of the most important things is that I enjoy life.’’