FARMER’S SMASHING PUMPKIN SQUASHES THE RECORD
Knockrow farmer Dale Oliver says there are no secrets to growing a super-size pumpkin after he broke the record for the biggest pumpkin in the southern hemisphere with a mammoth gourd weighing in at 867kg.
The citrus and avocado grower weighed in his whopper Atlantic giant pumpkin at the 2021 Giant
Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival in northern NSW over the weekend.
After a month of sweltering November heat, even he was surprised by the weight of the pumpkin, which swelled from a flower to its jaw-dropping size in 81 days.
“It was still growing when we picked it,” Mr Oliver said.
“It surprised me that it was that big. It wows people who haven’t seen it before — but not me because I’m used to them.”
The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed 1190.49kg and was grown by Belgian farmer Mathias Willemijns in October 2016.
Mr Oliver has been growing super-size pumpkins for years, a hobby that even he admits stems from an odd fascination.
“It’s a bit odd really. I also grow things for a living, so it was a challenge. And I once saw one at a shopping centre and it inspired me. Plus the kids love it.”
According to Mr Oliver, growing a record-breaker is all about finding the right seed, using nutrient-rich soil and having mild weather conditions ranging from 16C to 25C.
“You can grow a big pumpkin in all types of soil. There’s no secret, it’s just about trying to get it right. You need the soil to have the right moisture, as well as use fungicide, insecticide and do some pruning and vine management,” Mr Oliver said.
And while the pumpkin could feed a town, he instead plans to use its seeds to rear another winner.
“I won’t be eating it but my mate will pick it up and put it somewhere in the town for people to see. I also wanna get the seeds out of it and grow the next big one.“
YOU CAN GROW A BIG PUMPKIN IN ALL TYPES OF SOIL. THERE’S NO SECRET, IT’S JUST ABOUT TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT DALE OLIVER