Thousands of visitors flocked to Newby Hall near Ripon last weekend to enjoy a spectacular showcase of award-winning flowers and giant vegetables.
Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show delivered a celebration of the season, with visitors enjoying the biggest showcase of autumn flowers in the UK.
The much-anticipated giant vegetable competition saw a fiercely contested battle for top bragging rights.
Showing for the first time at the event, Michael Wilson from Peterlee won heaviest pumpkin for his entry, weighing in at an incredible 149.45kg.
Chris Marriott from Mansfield won heaviest carrot, weighing in at 21lbs/9.52544kg, and tomato (8.44lbs/9.52544kg), beating the UK record in both categories. He also won heaviest beetroot (45lbs/20.4117kg).
The National Onion Championships saw Stephen Purvis of Murton, County Durham, triumph with the heaviest trio of onions (22.565 kilograms/49.747lbs) and single onion (8.8 kilograms/19.401lbs) – narrowly missing the world record held by Guernsey’s Gareth Griffin and recorded at Newby Hall in 2023 (8.97 kg/19 lb 12.4 oz).
More than 5,000 autumn blooms from specialist growers and societies were on display at the show.
For the second consecutive year, the award for Best in Show went to Crewe-based 'Plantagogo', for its magnificent display of Heuchera, Heucherella and Tiarella.
Other show highlights included the National Dahlia and National Chrysanthemum Northern Championships, with the National Dahlia Society winning Best Specialist Society at the show.
Visitors to the show also enjoyed Newby Hall's award-winning gardens and the magnificent Ccountry House Living' themed floral installations on display throughout the hall, by internationally celebrated floral designer, Jonathan Moseley.
Harrogate Flower Shows Director, Nick Smith, said:
“Our fifth autumn show in the magnificent setting of Newby Hall really delivered the wow factor.
“Our incredible lineup of growers overcame the many challenges presented by the hottest weather on record to produce some spectacular displays.
“Together with our installations and live stage events, visitors enjoyed a stunning autumn celebration and a thoroughly inspirational weekend.”
The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is one of two flower shows hosted annually by the NEHS, with the Spring Flower Show taking place in Harrogate in April.
Profits from the shows are used by the NEHS to deliver horticultural community activities as part of its charitable remit, supporting the work of specialist societies and groups, and charitable horticultural organisations.
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