THUNDER BAY – Ben Johnson didn’t grow a 1,700-pound gourd this year.
But he was the only giant pumpkin grower in the region to top 1,000 pounds at Saturday’s annual weigh-off at Belluz Farm’s Pumpkin Mania event.
Johnson, who plans to take next year off to rest his soil after 20 years of competition, said the conditions just weren’t right to take aim at the Ontario record of 1,959, set last year by a southern Ontario couple.
“It was pretty small, compared to last year. Last year was 1,756 pounds. It was the cooler nights, the cooler weather. It really slowed them down the last month. It only grew five pounds a day,” said Johnson, who also had a pumpkin that weighed in at 852 pounds, surpassed only by the winning pumpkin and an 857-pound behemoth grown by Tim Stivak.
“Normally it’s anywhere from 30 pounds to 40 pounds a day.”
A win is a win, he added.
“It does feel good,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he uses genetic seeds, lots of water and a little fertilizer to grow his giant pumpkins.
“As long as it’s getting the proper nutrients daily, it’ll grow,” he said.
“You get the sunshine, the heat, then you’ve got something going on.”
It’s just a hobby, Johnson said.
“A few of us started about 20 years ago, just a group sitting around the table. One guy said, ‘I’ve got these seeds, let’s have a little competition’ and it just went from there.”
Adrienne Spivak, vice-president of the Thunder Bay District Giant Pumpkin Growers, said it’s just a lot of fun, which is why they hold the weigh-off every year.
“It’ s very enjoyable and this is a family event,” she said.
Unfortunately for local pie lovers, the giant pumpkins aren’t really great for eating, unless you’re wildlife.
Spivak said some growers will put their pumpkins on display, while others will cut them up and feed them to the deer.
“The deer actually like them a lot too,” she said.
