The Giant Pumpkins’ Giant Friends

Posted in Around the Garden on October 14 2013, by Ann Rafalko

They’re getting closer. All across the United States farmers are loading up moving vans and flatbed farm trucks with hulking pumpkins and heading for the Bronx and the Haunted Pumpkin Garden. And this year, the pumpkins are bringing friends.

For the first time, the Garden is excited to play host to the new world record-setting watermelon and the new world record-setting long gourd, too! Who names these world records? Our partners in giant pumpkin fun, the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, of course.

The watermelon, grown by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee clocks in at a whopping 350.5 pounds. The long gourd, grown by Fred Ansems of Kentville, Nova Scotia measures 139.25 inches (that’s over 11 feet!).

The long gourd and watermelon will be joining three of the largest pumpkins from around the world beginning Saturday, October 19. The pumpkins are set to be carved into a spooky tableau featuring carnivorous plants by Master Carver Ray Villafane and his band of pumpkin pranksters.

There’s no word yet on whether or not the watermelon and long gourd will join the pumpkins in becoming part of this, so you’ll just have to join us for Giant Pumpkin Weekend to find out!

For a chance to see all these behemoths after dark, join us for Spooky Nighttime Adventures. But get your tickets soon! They’re selling fast!