It’s greens all round as a giant cabbage harvested by proud National Trust gardeners needs a wheelbarrow to move it.

The green-fingered geniuses of Buckland Abbey at Buckland Monachorum have nurtured a cabbage so big it needs two people to lift it.

The colossal cabbage reached 10kg in weight and a width of 1.2 metres, despite this summer’s drought. It was grown in the former abbey’s productive kitchen veg patch in the monks’ historic walled garden and even overflowed their biggest wheelbarrow.

The aptly named ‘Cornish Giant’ variety cabbage has also earned the garden team bragging rights after winning a friendly competition against National Trust colleagues across the Tamar Valley and Cornwall to grow the biggest cabbage.

Senior gardener Sam Brown said: “We had a friendly competition with our National Trust colleagues across the Tamar Valley and Cornwall to grow the biggest cabbage.

“I'm happy to say that ours won by a country mile. Our Cornish Giant was 1.2 metres in diameter and over 10kg in weight. It actually overflowed our biggest wheelbarrow.”

And it's not just the cabbages that have been thriving. Despite the hot, dry summer, Buckland Abbey's gardeners and volunteers have enjoyed an exceptional harvest of pumpkins and squashes.

The giant cabbages will be donated to local animal charities for the animals to eat, while visitors are also being encouraged to support the community through a collection for Tavistock Foodbank.

Sam added: “Squashes and pumpkins are native to the Americas, so they can take a period of drought-like conditions. While other plants in the garden were needing our special attention over the summer, the pumpkins have actually thrived, giving us this incredible harvest.”

Visitors can see the results of the bumper crop during Buckland Abbey's Harvest Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, when the historic Tudor Great Hall will be filled with seasonal displays.

Dozens of pumpkins and squashes grown in the abbey's kitchen garden have been transformed into imaginative decorations inspired by this year's sea-monster-themed half-term activities.

A spectacular pumpkin Kraken, a legendary sea monster, takes centre stage, surrounded by warty ‘Galeux d'Eysine’ pumpkins and globe-like onion squashes resembling barnacles and coral. Visitors can also discover felt sea monsters created by the property's talented volunteers.

Emma Whitworth, communications and marketing officer for the Tamar Valley, said: “We love celebrating the traditions of harvest here at Buckland Abbey. The property was once a Cistercian monastery, so there's something particularly fitting about bringing people together to share the season's bounty and support our local community.

“We're collecting non-perishable food and hygiene products for Tavistock Foodbank until Tuesday, October 27, and we'd love visitors to get involved.”

Please check the website before visiting due to the forecast storm.

Senior Gardener Sam Brown with his team's giant cabbage at National Trust Buckland Abbey. Picture: National Trust Images.
Senior gardener Sam Brown with his team's giant cabbage at Buckland Abbey. Picture: National Trust Images. (National Trust Images)
The National Trust Buckland Abbey giant cabbage weighs over over 10kg. Picture by National Trust Images.
The National Trust Buckland Abbey giant cabbage weighs over 10kg. Picture: National Trust Images. (National Trust)