Is this Springs’ biggest pumpkin?
A Strubenvale family has grown a man-sized pumpkin in their backyard.
Shane and Brayden Farrow have grown a 111kg pumpkin.
The brothers say they have no plans to enter any competition and even they were surprised by the size of the pumpkin.
“We never did anything special to make it grow this big.
“We prepared the soil like we always do, watered it and in four months, we had this giant pumpkin,” says Shane.
The monster pumpkin took four people to carry it and they had to use an animal scale to weigh this oversized vegetable.
The Strubenvale pair started working in the garden as young children by helping their father in the garden.
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“I grew up growing our food at home.
“I have been doing this for 30 years so it came naturally to me to get my boys involved.
“I’m lucky because I naturally have green fingers,” says their father, Hilton Farrow.
The Farrow brothers have been growing a variety of vegetables in their backyard garden.
These include cucumbers, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes and, of course, their over-sized pumpkins.
“Our dad taught us everything we know and he helps us a lot.
“The manure we use he got for us and is all organic.
“It smells a bit funny but that’s fine.
“We’re used to it”, says Brayden.
The two work mostly in the afternoons and water their plants every day.
They eat some of the vegetables they grow but give most of them away.
“We give them to disadvantaged people, our neighbours, some charitable organisations and whoever wants them.
“It’s all too much for us,” says Shane.
The produce allows for a lot of experimentation in the kitchen.
“My husband cooks and experiments with the food.
“We’re never sure what we’re going to get but it’s always delicious,” says the boys’ mother, Chantelle Farrow.
The family plan is to carve the giant pumpkin and to try out as many pumpkin recipes as possible.
