TAKING good care of his pumpkins has paid off for a Brookfield hobby farmer who hopes to smash a Victorian record on March 15.
Sam Schembri, a gardener at Melton Catholic Regional College, believes one of four massive pumpkins he has entered into this month’s Pakenham Show weighs more than 270 kilograms.
Mr Schembri ordered the Atlantic giant pumpkin seeds online from the US.
“This is the first time I’ve grown pumpkins seriously and I think I might be in with a chance for the Victorian record. I’ve been taking very good care of the pumpkins.”
Mr Schembri also has 400 varieties of tomatoes on his farm and plants a couple of each type every year to make sauce, giving bottles to family and friends.
“I have a family background of farmers. Making tomato sauce and growing vegetables is one of my hobbies.”
Mr Schembri plans to sell the giant vegetables to traders at the Footscray market.
“I know traders are keen to use the pumpkins for display to use them for attraction.”
— Andria Cozza
