Wisbech farm claims UK record-breaking year for watermelons

A Cambridgeshire workplace has claimed a UK grounds aft increasing 11,000 watermelons this twelvemonth successful what it described arsenic a "challenging" climate.

Oakley Farms, successful Wisbech, doubled its accumulation contempt uncovering the effect "not that casual to grow".

The farm, which besides grows pumpkins and courgettes, is the UK's biggest shaper of watermelons, Tesco said.

The supermarket described this year's harvest from the workplace arsenic "the largest output ever produced successful Britain".

The grower tested antithetic methods successful bid to nutrient much effect per plant, doubling its erstwhile accumulation grounds from astir 5,500 successful 2020.

Farm manager Nick Molesworth said watermelons "fit successful perfectly betwixt accumulation of courgettes successful precocious outpouring and pumpkins successful aboriginal autumn".

"We person tried respective antithetic methods of increasing the watermelons and are present getting much effect per works truthful the hard enactment is starting to wage off," helium said.

"They are not that casual to turn and the British clime tin besides beryllium challenging but we're precise pleased with this year's crop."