Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well if Mary had lived in Alaska, she might well have some champion vegetables!

Alaska - Land of Giant Vegetables
The first American farmers to settle in Alaska in the 1930s soon discovered the vegetables they grew were reaching sizes unheard of in other parts of America. With less than two hours of darkness in late June, they were getting flooded with natural light at their critical growing period.





Cabbage - 85 lbs.






So the farmers decided to stage competitions at the fair. The first weigh-off, in 1941, was won with a 23lb cabbage. The present record is 105lb. It is not just cabbages. The section devoted to the giants is among the most popular at the fair.








Carrot - 19 lbs.












Alaska State Fair Records
Cabbage: 105.60 pounds -- Barb Everingham, Wasilla, 2000
Watermelon: 168.60 pounds -- Scott Robb, Palmer, 2005
Root beet: 42.75 pounds (world record) -- John Evans, Palmer, 1999
Longest bean: 22.75 inches -- Dave Iles, North Pole, 2005
Tallest corn: 23 feet 3.5 inches -- David Iles, North Pole, 2006



Zucchini - 59 lbs.