'I know my onions' - champion grower shares secrets to massive veg success at RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park

If there's one thing keen gardener John Bebbington knows, it's his onions. The champion vegetable grower was celebrating another year of huge success at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

For John's three GIANT onions won Best Dish on the opening day of the horticultural extravaganza in the vegetable competitions. His extra large cabbages were runner-up in their category while his massive tomatoes named Best in Cheshire.

John, 66, doesn't have his own garden - his terraced house in Crewe where he lives with wife Coral only has a backyard. So he nurtures an array of giant veg from seedlings in his back bedroom instead, before carefully transporting them to a nearby allotment in Willaston, Cheshire.

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It has been his hobby to grow ever-bigger vegetables for decades at his allotment. Having retired from his job as a tanker driver last year, he can now dedicate even more time to his passion.

John said: "All I ever wanted to do is grow the perfect onion - my dream is to make a 10lb onion, these ones are around 7-8lbs, but I've got to 9lb 10oz before now so I'm not far off. It's still the dream."

John has learned how to cross pollinate seeds in a bid to create the ultimate giant species. His winning onions at Tatton were a giant onion crossed with a show onion.

When it comes to sharing the secrets to his success, it appears there are no short cuts for wannabe giant veg growers. For it simply takes a lot of hard work.

John said: "The secret is perseverance, it’s sheer hard work. The thing with growing vegetables like this is, you only get one shot at it."

John took us through what he did to create the three magnificent winning