Man sets runner bean world record in Malvern

Derek Hulme has broken the world record for growing the heaviest runner bean.

Mr Hulme with his runner bean
Author: Emmie NortonPublished 28th Oct 2023

Derek Hulme, who is from Stoke-on-Trent, has set a new world record after growing the world's heaviest runner bean.

The gardeners giant vegetable was measured at the Canna UK National Giant Vegetable Championships in Malvern, in September and weighed a staggering 196 grams.

It was confirmed by the Guinness World Records that the weight of the runner bean - which is about the same as a cup of sugar - broke previous records.

Mr Hulme has previously been in press after holding the world record for the longest leek.

He said: "It's every school boys dream to hold a world record, but to hold two is just unreal.

"It's an amazing feeling to break two world records. It's just, unreal.

"The only secret that to growing giant vegetables is having the correct seed.

"Once you've got the correct seed from the best growers in the country, you grow it the same as you would any other vegetable but you just nurture it with more water and more feed.

"I will attempt to grow anything possible.

"I've got the seed and everything is potentially there to be broken.

"So I'll just keep pushing and pushing and pushing and just see what happens"

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