Giant pumpkin sail for charity
04 Mar 10
A "big veg" gardener is ready to set sail in a giant pumpkin to raise money for injured soldiers.
A 1,600lb pumpkin is being prepared for Medwyn Williams, chairman of the Fruit, Vegetable and Herb committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, who wants to raise funds for the Help for Heroes campaign.
The 67-year-old from Llanfairpwll, will travel along the Menai Strait that separates the Isle of Anglesey from the mainland coast in North Wales, with his son Alwyn, 42, a former soldier.
The seeds for the giant pumpkin will be planted in pots at the end of next month, which will be shifted in May inside a huge polytunnel.
The pumpkins will be fed with "a secret ingredient", Williams said, adding: "It might sound crazy but we are confident this can be done."
Williams, also chairman of the National Vegetable Society, said the seeds have arrived from America's world record pumpkin grower Don Lavingdon. Lavingdon is famous for his pumpkins that often weigh over 1,600lbs.
A seat and an outboard motor with a sponsored sail will be fixed inside the hollowed out pumpkin, which will have walls six inches thick once it is fully grown.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
http://www.rhs.org.uk/ (Royal Horticultural Society)
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