World’s Longest Cucumber

Gardener grows ‘world’s longest cucumber’ - A British grandmother may be entering the record books after growing what she thinks is the world’s longest cucumber.

Clare Pearce’s record breaking Giant Cucumber reached at least 47in in a straight line from top to bottom, and was about four inches longer if its curve was included in the measurement.

The current world record for the longest cucumber was set almost two years ago by Frank Dimmock of Thame in Oxfordshire. His effort reached 41.25in.

Although Mrs Pearce's cucumber eventually decomposed she also has a second slightly smaller cucumber that is still longer than the current record at 42in.

She has now invited Guinness World Record officals to examine the vegetable in the hope that it will be officially recognised as a new record.

The 78-year-old grandmother of 12 said: “At times it was like it was growing before my eyes. I couldn’t quite believe it.

“I’ve never grown cucumbers before but I knew it was massive. My daughter contacted the Guinness World Records but apparently we needed a horticulturist to verify it, and we didn’t know one.”

Mrs Pearce planted the Cucumber Melonie seeds in the greenhouse in the back garden of her home in Whittlesey, near Peterborough, in May.

The record breaking cucumber continued to grow until August when it fell from the plant. Unfortunately it then turned yellow and started to decompose, so the family had to cut it into much smaller chunks to dispose of it.

“I’ve no idea why they grew to be so big,” added Mrs Pearce, a retired administrator.

“I just watered them. The only thing I can think that I did differently was that once, fairly early on, I was feeding the tomatoes with tomato feed and I had a bit too much, so I used up what was left on the cucumbers.”

Mrs Pearce is currently in the process of confirming if the cucumbers have officially set a new world record.