ABC Great Southern

Horticulture topic

The winning pumpkin was moved to the competition on a small truck.

In short

A pumpkin weighing 408kg broke the WA record.

Kelsey Freemantle from Albany grew the record-breaking pumpkin.

What's next?

Kelsey is waiting for the record to be confirmed.

A 408kg pumpkin from WA's Great Southern is the new record holder.

Kelsey's pumpkin won the Lower Kalgan Pumpkin Competition.

Kelsey won the annual Great Southern competition.

The pumpkin's size was a surprise.

Kelsey said she wasn't sure she could grow such a big pumpkin.

Kelsey beat her sister Amarah, whose pumpkin weighed 406kg.

Amarah used a tent to protect her pumpkin.

Sibling rivalry

Kelsey and Amarah competed separately with different growing styles.

Amarah said she let her pumpkin grow more freely than Kelsey.

The competition was scaled back due to bad weather.

The organiser said it was a great season for pumpkin growing.

The winner was expected to weigh 286kg, but three pumpkins exceeded that.

It was great to see so many big pumpkins.

Forklifts were needed to move the giant pumpkins.

A forklift moved the winning pumpkin to the weigh-in.

The details were submitted to the record keepers.

The pumpkin may beat the previous record of 361kg.

Growing before your eyes

Kelsey said each grower has their own recipe for success.

The right genetics are needed to grow a large pumpkin.

A pumpkin patch belonging to one of the sisters.

Preparation for the competition started six months earlier.

The pumpkin needed close attention as it grew.

Kelsey kept the skin supple so it could keep growing.

The pumpkin can grow 15-20kg in a day.

The truck carrying the winning pumpkin.

Amarah used a tent to protect her pumpkin.

Amarah started with a two-man tent and upgraded to a four-man tent.

The tent was handy for checking on the pumpkin.

A gourd with many uses

The winning pumpkin is on display at a local store.

The pumpkin will not be eaten, but the seeds will be harvested.

The seeds will be used for next season's pumpkins.

The pumpkin will be fed to livestock.

Kelsey's kids want to turn the pumpkins into boats.

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