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Unfortunately, his pumpkins were not heavy enough to beat the world record of 1 247kg, which was produced by Travis Gienger of the US and presented at the 50th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, on 9 October 2023.
André du Plessis of Riversdale took second place with a pumpkin that weighed 954kg, while last year’s winner, Pieter Conradie of Nuy Valley, took third place with a pumpkin that weighed 737kg.
Lotz told Farmer’s Weekly that he knew that his winning pumpkin would break the record, but was uncertain by how much.
“I am a little disappointed that I did not break the world record and will try again for next year, starting with efforts to improve the soil in which the pumpkins are cultivated.”
He said that he initially planted four giant pumpkin varieties, with each plant spreading 10m by 10m. Unfortunately, one of the pumpkins burst.
“The pumpkins are pushed to grow as big as possible, and some of the lines are more prone to bursting than others.
You just hope yours will be able to take the punch.” The pumpkin that won the competition this year was an Atlantic Giant variety from the Maverick line.
Lotz explained that the selection of giant pumpkin varieties was as sophisticated as selecting a pedigree animal.
“You select a specific cultivar as you would select a specific breed of animal. [There are also] different growers who have become renowned for specific lines similar to stud breeders who have become famous for specific traits in their stud animals.”
In Lotz’s operation, the pumpkin plants are pollinated by hand with another variety, with Lotz usually keeping a pumpkin on the primary vine about five metres away from the centre. He spends about an hour each day scouting and fixing problems and ensuring the pumpkins are growing under optimal conditions.
South African giant pumpkin records have been broken four times at the Giant Pumpkin Festival, held in Heidelberg in the Western Cape, since the competition started in 2008, with the first competition boasting a winning pumpkin of 47kg.
The top three pumpkins are used to harvest seeds for future competitions, while the pulp is donated to local feeding schemes.
“We are thrilled to push for the world record, but our priority is always the community. Proceeds from the festival fund various local initiatives, with a special focus on supporting schools, providing meals through local feeding schemes and offering tickets to those who otherwise could not attend,” Altus Joubert, the festival organiser said.
