Brittany Grigg's 45-pound cabbage earned her a lot of green.
The Chubbuck Elementary School fourth-grader grew the mammoth vegetable this summer as part of a national contest sponsored by Bonnie Plants. For her effort, Brittany took first place for the state, netting her a $1,000 U.S. savings bond and worldwide bragging rights. Her photo is featured on the Bonnie Plants Web site.
The cabbage, which she started as a seedling in April and harvested in September, was the neighborhood spectacle throughout the summer.
"We have a walkway by our backyard and people would stop and stare," Brittany said.
Brittany's award-winning quest began last spring when her third-grade teacher, Joanne Kent, sent a cabbage seedling and growing instructions home with each student. She planted it in a sunny spot in the family's garden and installed a wall of water around it to protect it from freezing nighttime temperatures.
Brittany regularly watered and fertilized the plant with Miracle Gro. With the help of her nephew, David, she also spent countless hours netting small white butterflies so they wouldn't lay eggs on the cabbage.
Her mother, Darla, said they debated entering it in the fair in early August because they thought it would win for the biggest cabbage in Eastern Idaho, but they decided to let it grow for another month.
When Brittany finally did harvest the vegetable, she couldn't lift it, so her father, Brent, carried it to a picnic table in their backyard for a photo. After weighing it, Brent cut it up with a hand saw. They put it in grocery bags and gave most of it to neighbors.
They sent the photo and a contest entry form online to Bonnie Plants, which sent her the savings bond last week.
Next year, Brittany, who isn't as fond of eating cabbage as growing it, plans on raising corn and potatoes.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In