Take a lauki at these giant vegetables, dwarfing the proud gardener from Heston whose green fingers produced them.
The six-foot long lauki, also known as bottle neck gourds, were grown by Kashmir Bhatti at his home in Durham Avenue, Heston.
He says they are among the longest he has ever seen in this country and would be even bigger were it not for the unseasonably cold August we're having.
Lauki is grown during the monsoon season in Asia and as well as being added to curries and other dishes, its dried shell is sometimes used to carry water or make musical instruments.
Mr Bhatti, who ran the Brentford Dock Superstore for 26 years before retiring in 2011, is part of a group of keen gardeners who meet regularly in Heston Park to share advice and exchange seeds and plants.
"I grew lauki last year but they were not as long as these," said the 65-year-old grandfather-of-three.
"A family friend gave me seeds from the USA of this very long variety and I am very happy to see it growing in UK despite the cold climate."
In July, Lata Sabharwal told getwestlondon how the loquat trees in the backyard of her house in Hounslow had borne fruit for the first time in 14 years.
Volunteers at Cranford Park this year produced the first ever wine made using grapes grown in the park.
New allotment plots have recently been made available in Hanworth, Hounslow and Chiswick.
* Have you grown any super-sized or unusual fruit or veg in your garden or allotment? We'd love to see your photos.
