Canada: The Great Pumpkin of Dunbar in Vancouver hopes to squash the competition
Local growers will be vying for glory with giant pumpkins this weekend at the Krause Berry Farms’ Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
By Denise Ryan
Vancouver Sun
Oct 06, 2023
Excerpt:
Of the four seeds Polay started indoors last April, Julius was the one that spread his leaves like great green wings, as if to say: “I am here. Pick me.”
Almost as soon as the seedling was transferred to the front yard of Polay’s Dunbar home, Julius began to perform, growing almost 10 pounds a day during its rapid growth phase.
“It just took off,” said Polay.
Like some fairy tale Jack who planted a few seeds and climbed a beanstalk to an enchanted kingdom, Polay has been thrust into a whole new world, populated by giant vegetables, pumpkins (botanically categorized as fruit) and their enthusiastic growers.
It’s not just the mystery and alchemy of nature that inspires this community: every year growers enter their giant pumpkins in competitions, vying for local and world records based on weight, form and beauty. Giant pumpkins bring more than glory: Prize money is calculated by the pound.
Polay has learned about the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, an international body that oversees competitive vegetable growing, and sets the standards (including that of measuring in imperial).
