Fee, fie, foe, fum... fairytale brought to life

8:00am Tuesday 30th September 2008

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THE legend of Jack and the Beanstalk could be re-lived if the experience of a Herefordshire couple is anything to go by.

Mike and Sandra Fletcher, from Wellington Marsh, planted a seed thinking it would grow into a squash plant only for it to shoot towards the sky.

Its rapidly growing green shoots turned out to be those of a gourd plant that grew and grew at an alarming rate.

“It’s at least 30 foot long from the root and is at least seven foot off the ground," said Mike.

“It grew at a fantastic rate – at least three or four foot a week. There are at least 50 gourds on it of all shapes and sizes.

“I made a ski jump out of wood to keep it off the other plants. It then goes up an archway and climbs across a piece of rope.”

Sandra said: “It was strangling the onions and carrots so it had to be raised.”

Just like the famous story the plant could lead to riches. Mrs Fletcher plans to sell the pumpkin-like hard-skinned fruits, often used to decorative purposes, to raise money for charity.