World record set in Canfield

Article Photos

CANFIELD - With no regatta race this year at Parks Garden Center, the pumpkins didn't have to float Sunday.

Good thing, considering how many records sunk during the 15th annual giant pumpkin weigh-off held Saturday when Christy Harp, a teacher from Massillon, taught the usual winners a world-record lesson in pumpkin growing.

Harp's entry tipped the scales at 1,725 pounds, breaking the previous world record of 1,689 pounds set in Rhode Island in 2007 by Joe Jutras. She'll know in a couple of weeks if the world record will hold.

She also obliterated the Ohio state record of 1,524.5 pounds held by Bob Liggett of Circleville, earning $2,500 for first place in the weigh-off.

"We have seven Ohio state records within the club, two Pennsylvania state records and three world records," Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers director and secretary/treasurer Alan Gibson said Sunday.

Besides recording the largest giant pumpkin in the world during the weigh-off, the club also earned a new record for the average of the top 10 growers - 1,503 pounds. The old club record for the top ten average was 1,399.5 pounds.

Dave Stelts of Edinburg, Pennsylvania and president of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth came in second place with a pumpkin weighing 1,662.5 pounds - good enough to set a new state record in Pennsylvania. The old record was held by Quinn Werner of Meadville, Pa. at 1,556.5 pounds.

Rounding out the top ten, in order, were: 1,549 pounds, Jerry Rose of Huntsburg; 1,471 pounds, Jerry Rose; 1,466 pounds, Troy Neptune of New Concord; 1,445.5 pounds, Quinn Werner; 1,444.5 pounds, Erik Presto of Eighty-four, Pa.; 1,433.5 pounds, Dave Rumancik of Massillon; 1,430 pounds, Quinn Werner; and 1,401.5 pounds, Tim Parks of Canfield, owner of Parks Garden Center and OVGPG president.

Gibson explained some of the seeds from the winning pumpkins will be available for the club's seed auction, which is planned for 8 p.m. Nov. 28 and 29 on the club Web site at www.ovgpg.com. He explained that one seed can go for as high as $30. Proven seeds, such as seeds responsible for world record-holding pumpkins can go anywhere from $200 to $500 per seed on the Internet.

Money's not the goal, though, according to Gibson. It's the fun and the competition. He remarked that one gentleman watching the weigh-off called them the olympians of gardening and the Nascar growers of gardening.

"Extreme gardening," he said.

Not to be outdone by his wife, Nick Harp of Massillon set a new Ohio record for the heaviest tomato - 7.18 pounds - twice the size of a small dog, according to Gibson, who also said the entry qualifies as the second heaviest tomato in the world. The heaviest recorded was 7.75 pounds in Oklahoma.

Chuck Meier of Canfield set the new Ohio state record for the longest gourd at 119.8 inches long. The world record stands at 134.5 inches long.

Other first place winners included: Glenn Orr, field pumpkin, 137.5 pounds (third largest in the world); Troy and Tim Neptune, watermelon, 197.5 pounds; Christy Harp, musk melon, 29.3 pounds; Steve Razo of New Middletown, gourd, 932.5 pounds.

The 300-member OVGPG club offers seminars in the winter for beginners interested in learning about growing giants and one for advanced growers. Dates will be posted on the Web site.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreiersalemnews.net