Campbell Riverite Kerri van Kooten-Perras is the proud grower of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 biggest pumpkin.
Her pumpkin, nicknamed Walter, weighed in at 1,152 pounds at the provincial Pumpkin-Weigh Off event in Langley on Oct. 11. While she said it was exciting to win, getting a personal best was the real treat.
B次元官网网址淭he goal is to keep getting something bigger every year,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen I hit that first thousand pound or a few years ago, it was great. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a while since IB次元官网网址檝e actually had a thousand pounder. It was nice just to have a PB (personal best).B次元官网网址�
There must be something in the family, because growing giant pumpkins is a multi-generational thing for the van Kootens. Her father Jake grew the then-heaviest pumpkin in the world back in 2008 at 1,500 lbs. While Jake retired from competition in 2013, Kerri has kept up the tradition.
B次元官网网址淢y dad started growing probably when I was about five years old with a goal of maybe making 50 pounds and then he ended up in 2008 growing the biggest in the world. I come by it naturally. I just got the bug from him.B次元官网网址�
Kerri has been growing competition-level pumpkins for years, and whenever she has one that could be competition weight sheB次元官网网址檒l haul it off to the mainland for the weigh-off. Before this year, the best sheB次元官网网址檚 placed is third.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot that goes into growing a champion pumpkin. Some growers even have professional soil analysis done before they even start. From there itB次元官网网址檚 about planting the seed early and letting it germinate indoors before transferring it out into the garden space.
Kerri says she puts a little tent with a heater over the plant when itB次元官网网址檚 cold out, and covers it from the most damaging rays of the sun. Vine management is a big part of it as well, which helps the plant focus its energy on the one main fruit.
B次元官网网址漎ou pretty much have one pumpkin per plant,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 mean, you can have more than one but they take up quite a bit of space.B次元官网网址�
A thousand-pound-plus pumpkin doesnB次元官网网址檛 go unnoticed. Kerri said that her truck made quite a scene in the ferry line up.
B次元官网网址淭he ferry workers were kind of curious,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey were taking pictures and cheering me on as I was driving off the ferry. It was really quite cute.B次元官网网址�
For now, Walter the pumpkin is living at the Coastal Black Winery pumpkin festival for any who would like to see him.
Kerri also said that the hobby is quite easy to get in to.
B次元官网网址淚f anybody has an extra spot in their backyard and wants to try growing a pumpkin, it is a great thing to get into and youB次元官网网址檙e busy all summer,B次元官网网址� she said.
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