The biggest pumpkin at Pumpkinfest 2023 in Port Elgin weighed in at 724.16 kilograms (1,596.50 pounds).
This impressive pumpkin was grown by John Butler from St. Thomas, who got the seed from a guy in Alaska.
“I just met this man on vacation one year and we swapped seeds. So, I grew his seed this year. When he grew it, the pumpkin was over 2,000 pounds,” Butler said.
The 907-kilogram milestone still remains elusive for the award-winning Port Elgin Pumpkinfest. Organizers were hopeful that this could be the year.
While there were many large field veggies showcased, like watermelon and squash, the giant pumpkins are what really capture attention and often end up split in the field.
That’s just part of the risk for growers involved in giant pumpkins, said Breslau grower John Matesa, whose 686.5 kilogram (1,513.5 pound) pumpkin took second place on Saturday-his fifth second-place finish at the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest.
“They just grow so fast; they can gain 40 to 50 pounds (18 to 22 kg) a day at their peak. These pumpkins are usually around 100 days old, so to reach 1,400 pounds (635 kg) in that time frame is quite a challenge,” Matesa explained.
He believes that a pumpkin which split in his field last summer would have exceeded 907 kilograms. He knows other growers who lost all their pumpkins because if they grow too quickly, they can burst.
It’s definitely a gamble. Matesa noted that each giant pumpkin plant requires about 93 square meters to thrive, meaning most growers can only manage four plants each season.
Dave Middleton interviews John Matesa after the Breslau grower’s pumpkin weighed in at 38 kilograms shy of the leader at Pumpkinfest 2023 in Port Elgin on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (Greg Cowan/Postmedia Network)
This year’s winner Butler managed to grow two pumpkins and two squash plants. He mentioned that he spends around 40 hours a week tending to his garden among those four plants.
“It’s like having a full-time job; it’s why your weights seem to go up when you retire. I’ve been retired for eight years,” said Butler, who used to be a machinist.
Matesa has been cultivating giant vegetables for fifteen years now as he initially wanted to have the largest jack-o-lantern on his block.
“Then it turned into this madness. I went down the rabbit hole and started doing a lot of research,” he admitted.
Matesa takes soil samples twice annually and analyzes them to figure out what nutrients his plants need; he also sends plant tissue samples off to the University of Guelph for further testing.
He used to keep meticulous records of every detail throughout the process.
“I don’t do that much anymore; now I just enjoy watching them grow,” he shared.
He mentioned how growing giant vegetables can get competitive but there’s camaraderie among competitors too.
“We talk amongst ourselves-the growers-and share what we’re using because that’s how we all improve our results together,” Matesa remarked.
Matesa explained that seeds from one of his previous giant pumpkins could sell for as much as $600 while Butler noted that he and his growing partner spent nearly $2,000 just on compost this season.
“Most of your earnings go back into your hobby but it feels good when your hobby pays enough for you to enjoy it,” Butler commented with enthusiasm. “I don’t know why I started growing pumpkins; I simply love being out in my garden.”
Joel Jarvis from St. Thomas led with a massive squash weighing in at 582.19 kg (1,283.50 pounds), while Tiverton’s Bob and Elaine Mac Kenzie brought home honors with their heavy watermelon weighing 71.44 kg (157.5 pounds).
Giant gourds, squash and watermelon are put on display for dozens of onlookers at Pumpkinfest 2023 in Port Elgin on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.(Greg Cowan/Postmedia Network)
Additional vegetables were scheduled for weighing on Sunday.
Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s weigh-offs are recognized by the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth so besides chasing world records growers can earn points through their entries during both events.
If you’re looking for more details or complete weigh-off results check out www. pumpkinfest. org.
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