Another year, another pumpkin for Dr. Matthew DeBacco.
The biology and forensics teacher’s fruit this year reached a stellar 1761 pounds—but it certainly did not come without its fair share of challenges.
He began the pumpkin growing process earlier than usual, with soil amending and other preparations beginning prior to the start of spring. Utilizing heating cables, a greenhouse-like structure, and more DeBacco was able to regulate the conditions despite the cold weather. By March 20th, the pumpkin plant seedling was already in the ground.
And as the growing season continued, so did the challenges.
“[I] found two-spotted spider mites, which I have never seen in pumpkins before, and Phytophthora which is an aggressive vine wilt disease.” DeBacco said.
Throughout the summer, the idea of not having a suitable fruit and thus not attending a weigh off was something that began to cross the mind of the seasoned pumpkin-growing veteran.
But once it was time for the Woodstock fair’s annual weigh off rolled around and all was said and done, the scale read 1761 pounds putting DeBacco as the winner of the weight off—over 600 pounds more than the runner up at 1,113 pounds and top 10 in the world thus far.
