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SANDWICH – After winning a state prize for growing a 28-pound head of cabbage, Lily Geltz is thinking about her exit from the cabbage business.
It was the first cabbage Lily, a 9-year-old fourth-grade student from Newark, had ever grown. It also was the first vegetable to garner her any recognition. Lily received a $1,000 savings bond that will go toward her college education and the title of Illinois State Winner in Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program.
“It was pretty exciting that I won over lots of people,” Lily said. “I might grow another one.”
Lily started growing the cabbage in third grade at Lynn G. Haskins Elementary School in Sandwich District 430. More than 1.5 million third graders in 48 states took part in the annual challenge run by Alabama-based Bonnie Plants. Spokesperson Joan Casanova said Bonnie sends oversized cabbage plants that can grow up to 40 pounds.
Teachers submit a class winner, and a state winner is randomly selected by each state’s director of the Department of Agriculture.
Students grew the plants in cups before taking them home. Lily said she transplanted the cabbage into the garden outside her home in May. She watered it about three times a week and kept the plant free of weeds until it was ready to pick in August.
“It was pretty cool,” Lily said. “It was taking up a lot of space.”
Lily had to enlist help from her mom, Margaret Geltz, to carry the leafy vegetable from the garden to their home. Margaret Geltz said they created a carrier from plastic bags to make the 50-foot journey.
“We had to take a couple breaks along the way,” Margaret Geltz said.
Once they picked and weighed it, the Geltz’ gave the cabbage to a neighbor to eat. They typically don’t grow cabbage, although Lily has experience growing carrots, strawberries, jalapeños and tomatoes in the family garden.
Although the cabbage might be Lily’s last, her sister Mia, 7, will probably grow one when she enters fourth grade.
“We might have a little family competition,” Margaret Geltz said.