I’ve grown Britain’s biggest pumpkins – but there’s a surprising downside, says giant veg expert
IT’S Halloween on Thursday, and growers have spent the summer getting pumpkins in great shape.
But spare a thought for twins Ian and Stuart Paten – who’ve been busy cultivating one of the world’s biggest pumpkins.
Named Tiny Tim, and weighing in at 2641lb, it’s just missed the world record by literally a few pounds – as did their other offering Hagrid – at 2639lb.
Current holder is a US pumpkin called ‘Michael Jordan’ – which weighed 2749lb in 2023.
And just to put that in context – that’s nearly three times as heavy as a grand piano.
Welcome to the world of the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth – (GPC) which sees competitors from Alaska and China all the way to New Zealand attempting to win the coveted world record.
“There’s something called Pumpkin Sickness” Ian, 63, told Sun Gardening.
“Once you’ve grown a big pumpkin, even if it fails, the following year you have to do it again.
“We were 13 when we started. We used to grow for a local show, then we eventually got a UK record, then the sickness set in – and we just had to go bigger!
“There’s a latitude line line where pumpkins have the perfect climate – including America – and frustratingly, we’re just a bit too cold.
“We can grow a pumpkin over 1000lb outside, but to go really big, you need a Pumpkin Research and Development unit – which we built when we built a new nursery. It’s got automatic vents, automatic shading, and it’s just right for growing pumpkins.”
He added: “It all began with a genius American called Howard Dill who ended up with a variety called Atlantic Giant. Every year since we’ve crossed the biggest with the biggest and now we have our own seeds, which we plant in April.
“Everyone thinks we have a magic feed – but its just the usual – the water is the most important factor.
“Each plant can be 1000 square foot – and we need as many roots as possible into the soil. We have drip tubes, they are watered five times a day, and each plant when they’re growing, takes up to 130 litres a day.
“When they grow they start off slow, they get to about the size of a beach ball after probably 15 to 20 days.
“Then all of a sudden they start doubling in size, and then when they get to about 500 pounds then they will go in 10 days to 1200 pounds. You can almost watch them grow.”
IN VERONICA'S COLUMN THIS WEEK
News, tips and a competition to win a leaf blower and pruning shears
NEWS! Kew Gardens has revealed some of the world’s rarest plants – and those that are extinct in the wild, in a new exhibition. It focuses not only on the plants – but how they’re looked after. And there’s focus on the amazing horticulturalists that brought them to Kew from cliff edges, tiny tropical islands and incredible near-impossible to access spaces all over the world.
“There’s a 250 year history at Kew of looking after these rare and extinct plants” Jessica Frances, from Kew, told Sun Gardening.
“We need to keep these plants going for the genetic diversity of the planet. If we just get stuck with a small level of the same plants – it will be a much more disease prone planet. Having areas that are as natural as we can get them, will be more diverse, which is better for insects, animals and our health too.” The exhibition runs until November 17.
NEWS! Bath, the original winners of Britain in Bloom, have won again – in the RHS gardening competition’s 60th year. Announced on The One Show, on Monday night, it was also revealed that first-time entrants Wrexham in Bloom, in Wales, won the City category and a gold medal.
Dame Mary Berry, RHS Ambassador, said: “Bath is such a special place to me – I grew up there. Bath in Bloom won this competition 60 years ago and have done it again on their 60th anniversary. Congratulations!”
NEWS! Grant-making charity Project Giving Back has announced the gardens it will be supporting at Chelsea – including a down syndrome garden, one by female prisoners, and a space for The Kings Trust linking young people with seeds.
WIN! Those leaves won’t clear up themselves. So one lucky winner can get their hands on this £89 Stiga Cordless leaf blower BL100e with battery plus a pair of cordless Pruning shears worth £129.
To enter fill in THIS FORM, for more details visit www.thesun.co.uk/AUTSTIGA or write to Sun Autumn Stiga Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 09.11.24 T&Cs apply.
SAVE! Rose pruning is on the horizon, so protect your arms with Amazon’s £16.99 SLARMOR gardening gloves. Or buy an almost identical pair from Woodside for just £7.99
TOP TIP If you’re lucky enough to have hedgehogs, don’t leave your pumpkin lying around post halloween, it can make them really poorly at a vital time.
JOB OF THE WEEK Apples will be ripe for picking, it’s still warm enough to get down turf, and lift up Canna’s to overwinter the tubers.
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