BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BACKYARD gardening has its benefits, especially in these times when the cost of living is steadily climbing, and testimony of this lies in a large-size pumpkin recently reaped by a family in St. Paul’s Village.
According to 16-year-old Katherine Wilkins, this is the first time she and her mother Floretta Bloice have reaped a pumpkin of that size.
She said that in the recent past they had noticed how large it was getting and then one part of it started turning yellow, and they knew it was ready to be picked.
On a visit to their home yesterday morning (Jan. 15) morning, SKNVibes saw the pumpkin in the family’s living room that was grown in their backyard.
Wilkins said that most of their pumpkins grew to be smaller than a basketball, so they were quite surprised on seeing how large this one had become.
They however are unsure of its weight, but suggested it should be over 30 pounds.
“Even before my birth, I have learnt that my mother had always been growing stuff in her backyard. And from my early primary school days I also started gardening.
“Many afternoons after school, I would go into the backyard, plant some seeds and nurture them until they are ready to be picked. This has now graduated from a hobby into a culture I have adopted from my mother that I will take into my adult life,” said Wilkins.
She also said they grew other foods in their garden including yams, potatoes, cassavas and bananas.
Although they do not normally sell their produce but keep for consumption in the home or to share with neighbors from time to times, Wilkins said they are probably going to sell the entire pumpkin to a shop.
According to the Guiness Book of Records, the world's largest pumpkin to date had weighed 1092 pounds.
