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Gardener receives World Record for biggest onion ever

Friday, 6 October 2023 16:00

Gareth Griffin has received confirmation that his giant onion is a record-breaker after displaying it at the Harrogate Flower Show last month.

Gardener receives World Record for biggest onion ever A Guernsey gardener has received confirmation that his giant onion is a record-breaker after displaying it at the Harrogate Flower Show last month. Gareth Griffin’s onion weighs 8.9kg (19.7lb) and is around 21 inches high, making it the largest on record. Green-fingered Gareth said he had tried for 12 years to break the record by growing onions at home. But the 65-year-old has now received confirmation from the Guinness World Records that his eye-watering onion is now the record-holder. [caption id="attachment_81748" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Gareth Griffin with his record-breaking onion.[/caption] It beat the previous world record of 8.4kg (18.68lb). Speaking at the Harrogate Flower Show at Newby Hall, Gareth told Your Harrogate:

“I first came here in 2011 and was amazed when I saw the world record onion and I’ve been hooked ever since!"

To achieve the record, Gareth used 24-hour lighting for several weeks and an automatic irrigation system in a polytunnel "so he could still go on his holidays". He had to transport the onion over to the mainland by ferry in his motorhome. Gareth said the onion is “perfectly edible” but would be “very mild in taste.” Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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