Agriculture
Iwan from Leerdam Grows Another Giant Pumpkin, Now Weighing 721 kg: 'Anyone Can Do This with Good Seeds'
Iwan Horde of Leerdam won the Dutch National Championship for pumpkin growing in Breda with a 721-kilogram specimen, aiming to break the world record held by an English twin team at nearly 1300 kilograms. Horde, who holds the national record of 897.7 kilograms set in 2022, attributes his success to using specialized Atlantic Giant seeds, intensive winter fertilization, and daily maintenance including watering and pruning. Although the champion pumpkin was originally planted as a pollinator due to mold affecting his primary entry, it successfully weighed in at the competition. The pumpkin is now stored dry to preserve it for display in October, after which the seeds will be distributed among growers.
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