Sisters Grow 408kg Pumpkin, Smash WA State Record

Kelsey Freemantle just grew a pumpkin so massive it needed a forklift to move and a truck to transport. Her 408-kilogram Atlantic giant pumpkin claimed the title of heaviest ever grown in Western Australia, beating the previous 2018 record by 47 kilograms.

The real twist? Her sister Amarah came in second place with a 406-kilogram giant of her own.

The siblings competed at the Lower Kalgan Pumpkin Competition near Albany, about 420 kilometers south of Perth. Both had entered together in previous years, but this time they went head-to-head with completely different growing strategies.

"I tend to let mine go a little bit more haywire than my sister," Amarah said. She used tents to protect her pumpkin from the elements, starting with a two-man tent and eventually upgrading to a four-man size as her gourd expanded.

Kelsey admitted the record-breaking size caught her off guard. "I know that they can grow that big, but I wasn't sure that I would be able to do it," she said.

Growing these giants takes serious dedication. The sisters started preparing six months before the competition, carefully managing water, specialized fertilizer, and keeping the pumpkin skin supple so it could expand without splitting.

During peak growing periods, the pumpkins gained 15 to 20 kilograms every single day. "You can kind of see it grow before your eyes," Kelsey explained.

Competition organizer John Bocian said the season exceeded all expectations. Organizers predicted the winner would weigh around 286 kilograms, but three pumpkins sailed past that mark.

Why This Inspires

This story shows how friendly competition can push us to achieve things we never thought possible. Two sisters turned backyard gardening into a record-breaking feat through patience, dedication, and a willingness to try different approaches. Their playful rivalry created something neither might have accomplished alone.

The winning pumpkin's journey isn't over yet. After its star turn on display at the local store during school holidays, Kelsey plans to harvest the seeds for next season and feed the rest to livestock. Her kids have other ideas though, suggesting they carve the massive gourds into boats and row them down the river.