Gourd almighty! Plymouth pumpkin will be a squash to get into the kitchen
A LOLLIPOP lady from Efford has harvested an 88-pound pumpkin in time for Halloween.
Grandmother Jacqueline Butler is a pumpkin-growing enthusiast and this year has smashed her personal record from last year of 56 pounds.
The pumpkin, grown in her allotments at Derwent Avenue, was planted in June after a spell indoors.
Jacqueline, who has 12 grandchildren, said she planted a number of seeds in April which were kept inside until the risk of frost had subsided.
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She said: "Last year I grew a 56lb one. I have grown a lot of large ones but I've never managed to get one this big.
"I do enjoy gardening but the pumpkins are my favourite mainly because the grandchildren love them for Halloween.
"My husband does moan a bit because where the ground is taken up with pumpkins it could be used for different things."
To grow larger pumpkins, 57-year-old Jacqueline uses manure in the soil and tomato feed combined with plenty of water.
"I don't use chemicals and only use the organic slug pellets. I don't spray the pumpkins either," she added.
"We have a Halloween party for the grandchildren and the pumpkin will mainly be used for that; I have used them to make jam in the past as well. Anything that's not used will be put back into the ground for compost – nothing will be wasted."
The giant pumpkin is by no means a record breaker though: The Guinness World Record for the heaviest pumpkin stands at 1,810lb 8oz in Minnesota in America.
However, next year, Jacqueline, who works at High View School helping youngsters cross the road, said she will be having another go to see if she can grow an even bigger pumpkin.
If you thought Jacqueline's was big, a six-year-old boy from East Yorkshire has grown a monster weighing four times more than him.
Max Jones spent hours caring for his pumpkin as it grew from a tiny seed into a 14-and-a-half stone giant and wrapped it up in blankets at night to keep it warm.
But can you do better? Is your pumpkin bigger than Jacqueline or Max's? If so, contact the Herald news desk on 01752 765529.
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