A father-daughter duo with a track record of growing the biggest pumpkins in Canada is once again on top at Port Elgin Pumpkinfest.
Jim and Kelsey Bryson of Ormstown, Quebec captured their second consecutive and fifth overall Pumpkinfest crown with a 1,871-pound monster, falling just six pounds shy of the Canadian record.
The win came as a surprise after the odds-on-favourite grown by John Matesa of Breslau, Ontario came up much lighter than anticipated, and Jim Bryson says there's little explanation why some pumpkins are not as heavy as they appear.
"I can't explain why some go light and some go heavy, it's hard to explain," says Bryson.
As for the recipe for his own success, Bryson says he has found a method for preparing his gardens that works well for giant pumpkins.
"I don't till the garden anymore, I threw my tiller away and I go cover crops, like I'll have the gardens rest with just cover crops for two years in a row and then I'll go back to pumpkins," says Bryson. "I think it's really helping me out."
It's a 12-hour journey from Ormstown to Port Elgin for Pumpkinfest, but Bryson says it's a trip worth doing every year.
"I love it, I love it, it's the best weigh-off in Canada, the people are amazing here, it's just a different way of life, it's really nice," says Bryson.
Todd Kline of Shawville, Quebec completed the sweep for Quebec growers, capturing the squash category with a 1,472-pound green giant.
Todd Kline of Shawville, Quebec with his first-place squash, which weighed in at 1,472-lbs. (Jordan MacKinnon photo)