Cool weather hampered the contenders for this year’s Saskatchewan pumpkin challenge.
The winner, grown by Eric Jischke of Nokomis, weighed in Nov. 2 at 440.9 pounds. But a winner in a past year was a 607 lb. whopper from the Fairlight area.
“Make sure you get that 0.9,” joked contest organizer Gerry Dahl.
He and other pumpkin growers in Pilger, Sask., had challenged Saskatchewan communities to grow the giant squash. Besides Pilger and Nokomis, seven other towns were in the contest including Radisson, Denzil, Silton, Preeceville, Nipawin, Spiritwood and Fairlight.
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Dahl said the weather was not co-operative and in his pumpkin patch the female plants flowered too late to catch a good start on growth.
In Pilger, three members of the same family tested their green thumbs. Son David Frerikn won the town’s contest with a 394 lb. pumpkin, while his mother, Sally, grew a 357 lb. one and his father, Caspar, had one weighing 278 lb.
Dahl said the Frerikn family entered the contest for the first time this year and did well because of their warm and sunny garden site.
While the giant vegetables were still growing, Pilger held a pumpkin festival Sept. 27 that attracted 522 people. The festival raised $4,000 that will be going to local agencies such as the library, fire department and recreation board.
Pilger plans to hold the challenge next year.
As for the giant pumpkins, they are not just about appearance. Dahl said the giant pumpkin meat is sweeter than the flesh of regular ones. Carve it out, cook it down, put in bags and freeze until you’re ready to make pumpkin pie. Many pumpkin pies.
