Massive cabbage is stalk of the town

Great-grandfather Tony Southall is the toast of his allotments – after growing a corker of a cabbage, which weighed in at 25lb 2oz.

But now he thinks he is about to unveil an even bigger one at Amblecote Allotments' Horticultural Show in Stourbridge on September 3.

Tony, aged 74, of Barbrook Drive, Lakeside, Amblecote, revealed the secret of his success in growing such a whopping Cornish Giant cabbage, which he began to cultivate in March.

"I swear by liquid comfrey to feed my cabbages – it's a herb and it smells like rotting vegetation," he said.

"I also put a bucket of wee in the compost."

Tony, a widower, who is a retired engineer, at James Bridge Copper Works, Darlaston, showed his voluminous cabbage, with a 5ft diameter, at the allotment's open day on Saturday.

"It was blessed heavy," he said. "I have heard of people who say they've grown a 60 pounder – but saying it and seeing it are another thing and I wouldn't always trust what a vegetable grower says."

A visitor who guessed that Tony's weighed 25lb – only 2oz out – won a bottle of whisky.

And the cabbage was later donated to be eaten by residents of a care home. "The one I'll be putting into our show at Amblecote Royal British Legion on September 3 looks even bigger – but I won't say the weight I think it is because it will be up for another guess," he said.

Tony, who has had his 148sq ft allotment for 13 years, last September grew a 136lb marrow – and this year he has another that he thinks should tip the scales at anywhere up to 230lb.

He is also nurturing extra-long runner beans, as well as carrots, cauliflowers, parsnips and other vegetables.

He never buys vegetables and has four freezers to keep him going throughout the seasons.

And Tony confesses he does talk to his plants – warning them "if you don't grow, you're on the compost heap."