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According to Chestnut, the 23-inch zucchini was obscured by several leaves, vines and other plants, so she had no idea the vast vegetable was growing in front of her home.
Chestnut said that she has gardened for a hobby since her family first moved to Ardsley more than a decade ago. She noted that she has no secret tricks up her sleeves, just some good old-fashioned fertilizer, water, elbow grease and love.
“I’m not doing anything special, I just go out there and talk to my little plants. Some I have good luck with, others I don’t,” she said. “I didn’t have good luck with my tomatoes, and there’s still eggplant and yellow squash out there. That’s actually the first time I’ve ever grown that variety of zucchini.”
This isn’t the first time Chestnut has grown a zucchini worthy of inclusion at the state fair. Last year, in nearly the same spot, she grew one that was measured at 17 inches, although she herself doesn’t know what her secret is.
“Maybe it’s the soil? I really don’t know,” she said. “It was two different varieties, and there’s just a ton of vines growing in my front yard.”
Chestnut said she and her family have sampled some of the smaller zucchinis that came from the same vine – which she added tasted wonderful – but she’s been intimidated by the two-foot vegetable, which has resided on her living room table since being picked.
The woman with the green thumb said she isn’t sure what she plans to make with the massive zucchini, but expects she will have to share if she hopes to get through the whole thing.
“I haven’t eaten this one yet, I can’t bring myself to cut it,” she said. “It’s so big that I have to share it with family, or neighbors, or something. Even after that, we might have to put it in the freezer.”
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