An 824-pound orange monster grown by a Berlin Township man won the 6th annual pumpkin weigh-off Friday evening at Louie’s Food & Spirits in Lakeville ? and that wasn’t even this newcomer’s largest one.
‘This is my second biggest,? said Steve Zuhlke, who’s winning pumpkin was set on the scale by a crane.
At the Sept. 30 Central Great Lakes Weigh-Off in St. Johns, Michigan, Zuhlke set a new state record with the 1,302-pound pumpkin he grew on his 10-acre spread in St. Clair County.
The old state record was 1,199 pounds.
So, what’s the secret to growing a pumpkin that weighs over half-a-ton?
‘Start out with good seed and go from there,? said Zuhlke, who purchased the record-setting seed at an auction. It came from a pumpkin in Ohio.
‘I’ve got seeds from all over the world,? he said, noting people trade them at www.bigpumpkins.com.
Next, get the soil ready with good fertilizer. Zuhlke, who started growing giant pumpkins three years ago, uses a combination manure, compost, a liquid blend of fish and seaweed (his favor ite) and liquid calcium. He only uses synthetic fertilizer three times to ‘boost? the plants.
Consistent watering of the pumpkin plants is critical. This summer Zuhlke said he was refilling his 700-gallon tank with well water ‘every third day.?
‘It was a pretty hot summer so I did use a lot of water this year,? he said.
To control the plant’s growth, Zuhlke recommends keeping only certain vines and cutting the extra ones. Vines that are keepers should be buried in the dirt to help them take root and protect them from harmful wind and damaging insects.
‘Keep the soil loose? and avoid compacting it, Zuhlke noted. ‘Everywhere I walk I have boards to keep from packing the soil down.?
Zuhlke estimates he spends two to three hours per night weeding, watering, trimming and burying.
‘I think I’m crazy,? he said.
Unfortunately, Zuhlke couldn’t bring the record-setting pumpkin with him to Lakeville because it was in Lum, Michigan waiting to ride in a parade Saturday celebrating Arcadia Township’s 150th anniversary.
Although it wasn’t the biggest in the state, Zuhlke’s 824-pound bruiser was the largest in the short history of Louie’s annual weigh-off.
Six mutant-sized pumpkins tipping the scales at a combined 2,032 pounds competed in this year’s contest.
Addison residents Zivko ‘Zeeke? Vasovski, the restaurant’s co-owner, and Steve Ardelean founded the pumpkin growing competition in 2001 as a friendly wager. Others began entering it in 2004.
Since then, neither Vasovski nor Ardelean has claimed victory or bragging rights.
Ardelean took second place this year with a 429-pound beauty while Vasovski came in third with his 375-pound specimen.
Steve Fogler, of Oakland Township, came in fourth with his 164-pounder. Well-known Leonard pig farmer John Spezia took fifth place with a 127-pounder.
Last place went to Angie Crabtree, of Auburn Hills, who grew a respectable 113-pounder.