The thing about pumpkins

A few weeks ago I mentioned a pie eating contest at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, NY. I was at the GPF covering The World Pumpkin Weigh-Off. I met a handful of really interesting folks whose principal hobby is growing ridiculously large pumpkins. They meet for competitions, sell winning seeds and exchange tips and war stories about growing ridiculously large pumpkins.

Like many hobbies, giant pumpkin growing can be a time-consuming activity. Here are some details:

1. To grow a giant pumpkin you must dedicate between 1-3 hours a day. Activities include, watering, weeding, fertilizing (never underestimate that last part,) and in one man's case, playing his pumpkin heavy metal music.

2. To grow a giant pumpkin you must plant early. We're talking March or April. Get those seeds in your favorite greenhouse or put them on top of your fridge to get them warm and sprouting. From there, various transfers might be necessary---especially in Western New York, where the weather can include hail, snow, ice, wind or rain nearly all year round.

3. Get the family involved. Naming your pumpkin might increase its self-confidence and speed up its growth.

4. Come October, dust off your forklift, oh wait, no forklift? Call a bunch of your heftiest friends and offer them beer to help move your gargantuan squash. If you've followed the above steps, your pumpkin probably weighs over 500lbs (226kls).

5. Decide what you're going to do with Your Pumpkin afterwards. Save the seeds? Genetics is important, after all. Carve it? Hide your children inside?...it's up to you.


Now that you know everything you need to grow a giant pumpkin, how about some motivational photos from the event?


That's 981 lbs., for those of you paying attention to the scale.

Transportation is an important consideration as well...


For those of you who don't succeed...well, 10lbs isn't so bad either.
The winner at 1075lbs.