Huron Expositor, 2006-10-25, Page 28„filar
age 28 The Huron Expositor • October 25, 2006
News
Seaforth brothers grow giant pumpkins
Jeff Heuchert
After growing regular -sized pump-
kins on their Seaforth farm for the
past several years, Pat Melady and
his two sons Brent and Alex, decid-
ed to challenge themselves this year
and see if they could grow a pump-
kin that could carry its own weight
up against the plump competition at
Port Elgin's Pumpkinfest.
"(Our plan was) to get it as big as
we could and then take them out
there," said Pat earlier this week.
Asked why they were interested in
competing, Alex summed it up in
two words, "big money."
While the Meladys were able to
grow five Large pumpkins, with the
largest weighing in at 617 pounds,
they were still a far cry from the
1,355 pound pumpkin that won this
year's competition and the $5,000.
Having no experience growing
extra -large pumpkins, the Meladys
enlisted the assistance of nearby
Seaforth resident Bill McIver, who
has much experience in growing
larger -than -usual pumpkins.
Alex and Brent
Seaforth farm.
Melady with' one of the five large pumpkins grown on their
Pat says the unusual care . and
attention they would need to give
the pumpkins started in April,
about a- month earlier than if you
were growing regular pumpkins.
Inside a shed, the Meladys used
incubators to protect the seeds,
before transplanting them into top
soil, mixed with manure, outside
inside square boxes.
"They (the square boxes) were like
a greenhouse," to optimize the heat
and sun, explains Pat.
The next step was in June when
Brent and Alex got to hand polli-
nate the flowers.
For this step the Meladys had to
swab the stigma (internal parts) of
the female flower with the pollen-
laden stamen of a male flower.
Along with frequent fertilizing
and plenty of watering, the last
major step was to prune the vines
so that the plants were only feeding
the pumpkins.
To have the two largest pumpkins
weighed, Pat used a forklift to load
them into a truck. They were
weighed at Broadgrain
Commodities Inc. in Seaforth.
As for what they'll do with them,
Pat figures they'll break them up
and compost the pieces.
And as for next year, well, Brent
and Alex still want that $5,000.
"It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun,"
adds Pat.
•
looking for
speed or style?.
Compare at
AUTONET. CA
•
Naviqate canoe.ca
SEE ALSO: JOBS: jobboom.com ( CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds.canoe.ca 1 NEWS: canoe.ca
Reviews and news
from our expert b'ogger,
Compare the latest models
AUTTNET.cA
MULTIMEDIA: Iive.canoe.ca