Record breaking 790kg pumpkin can feed thousands

A record-breaking pumpkin, which has won in the Goliat van Gat pumpkin competition, would feed about 2 000 people.

This was according to competition co-ordinator Henri Combrink who said the winning pumpkin weighed 790kg, only 70kg short of the current South African record of 860kg.

The popular annual pumpkin competition, held in Silverton, was hosted on Saturday and 22 competitors from all over the country gathered to show off their produce.

Of them, four were picked to be the biggest with Peet Joubert (532kg), coming second and Lizzie Lamprecht (399kg) third.

Sonja Joubert (375kg) was placed fourth.

“All four winning pumpkins would feed about 16 000 people,” Combrink said.

“At the end of the day, this is what makes it all worth it.”

The competition was started 18 years ago, by Cullinan farmers’ union.

“There are a lot of factors that can influence the quality of your produce such as weather, pests and environmental changes,” he said.

Combrink said a special variant seed was used to grow the pumpkins that big, but each farmer’s treatment of the plant as well as environmental factors determined how well it tuned out.

The pumpkins were donated to two Pretoria NGOs where they would be cut into pieces and distributed to those in need.

Combrink said a lot of the participants were ordinary people.

“One guy grew his pumpkin in a security complex and had to lift it over a 30m fence to get it out of his yard,” he said.

“That is commitment right there.

“Anyone can do this. If you’ve got a piece of ground that’s suitable and big enough, you can participate.”

The planting season starts at the end of September and Combrink said that was when planting would start for next year’s competition.

“I am looking forward to next year’s competition,” Combrink said.