Susanna Freymark
At the back of John Leadbeatter’s farmhouse at Rukenvale, there is tarp in the middle of the pumpkin patch.
A cord runs out to the garden to power electric fans surrounding a huge Atlantic pumpkin resting on a board and cloth.
“I feel like I’m visiting the messiah,” I say to John.
He chuckles briefly. He checks the fans are working and that the pumpkin is still attached to the vine.
It is, but only just.
The pumpkin is 65 days old and John is hoping it will grow a bit more before it is weighed at the Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival in Kyogle on Saturday, January 18.
This is the 15th time John has entered the comp. The first time, he won with a 65kg pumpkin.
John estimates this year’s pumpkin is about 450kg.
“He’s an ugly looking bugger.” John taps the side of the massive pumpkin.
His goal is to keep it dry. If it gets spongy or collapses he can’t enter it in the festival comp.
He is in touch with champion grower Dale Oliver, who like John, is battling the moist weather – not good for pumpkins.
Their Queensland counterparts, who won last year’s comp, have had the same if not worse issues with heavy rain, John said.
It’ll be tense when John has to load his prized pumpkin on to the back of his ute to take it to town. He will use a sling and pallet with corn bags.
Meantime, he’s been digging drains around the pumpkin to direct any wetness away from the giant vegetable.
There’s a lot at stake – farmers like John take the giant pumpkin challenge seriously.
He checks the pumpkin every day.
“It doesn’t smell, “ he said, a sign the pumpkin is dry inside. He taps it.
“Sounds good,” I say as if I know what I’m talking about. I don’t.
I ask if the pumpkin will turn orange in the next two weeks.
John shakes his head, it’ll stay grey and ugly, he said.
On the day, colour and looks don’t matter – it’s all about the weight.
Last year, Tony Frohloff from Minden, Queensland won $1100 and the title with his 358.5kg pumpkin.
Dale won in 2023 with a pumpkin weighing 674.5kg.
John won in 2022 with a 391kg pumpkin
Dale won in 2021 with an 867kg pumpkin – a record for the Kyogle festival.
Come to Stratheden Street, Kyogle from 8am and watch the pumpkins be weighed and check out the other vegetables.
It’s going to be an interesting comp this year because most growers have struggled with the moist weather.
John’s ugly pumpkin could be the star of the show yet.
Go to the Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival Facebook page for more details.
