Invasion of the monster veg in Spitalfields

Over recent weeks, there has been a stealthy silent invasion of the neighbourhood. In the side streets, lurking behind abundant greenery, sometimes concealed behind plastic sheeting or even protected behind wire mesh are these monster Kodu. There are long ones and round ones, ridged ones and smooth ones, yellow ones and green ones, patterned ones, and some which can grow so enormous that, like this one in a garden at Albert Cottages, they require ropes to hold them up – or maybe, like James’ giant peach, the ropes are there to hold them down?

At the Spitalfields City Farm in the polytunnel, there is currently one of the most incredible displays of vegetable life you will ever see, pictured below.