Photo: X / thandojo
In a world where extraordinary agricultural feats are celebrated, one young gardener from Johnstown, Ont. has captured the imagination of his community — and the pumpkin-growing world. Noah Devisser, an 18-year-old with a passion for cultivating massive gourds, made headlines this past week when he broke the local record by growing a 500-kg pumpkin, officially tipping the scales at 508 kilograms at the Spencerville Fair Mammoth Pumpkin Stake.
The enormous pumpkin wasn’t just a fluke — it was the result of careful planning, steady hands, and an understanding of the delicate balance between growth and sustainability. With this achievement, Noah not only claimed the top prize but also joined a lineage of growers striving to push the boundaries of horticultural excellence.
According to Noah, growing such a colossal pumpkin required more than just watering it daily and hoping for the best. At one point, his pumpkin was growing at nearly 20 kilograms per day, which started to strain its structural integrity. “The rate of growth required to get this big is very hard for the fruit to maintain without blowing itself apart,” he explained.
When tiny cracks began to form on the pumpkin’s surface, Noah knew it was time to slow things down. He reduced watering temporarily, giving the pumpkin time to stabilize and harden its walls — a decision that ultimately preserved its integrity until harvest day. “The walls held,” he smiled, recalling how the giant fruit stayed intact.
His cautious, methodical approach to cultivation underscores an important lesson in agricultural practice: more isn’t always better. By balancing growth with care, Noah ensured that his pumpkin not only reached record-breaking proportions but also remained healthy throughout the season.
The pumpkin’s final weight of 508 kilograms didn’t just break the local record — it surpassed the previous high of 478 kilograms set at the same fair in past years. “I don’t think it matters how big you’ve ever grown before. Every time you get another big one, the biggest you’ve had, it’s impressive,” Noah remarked modestly.
This attitude reflects the spirit of competition — one where each new achievement builds on the last, rather than replacing it entirely. For many growers, the goal is not only personal pride but also contributing to a larger tradition of agricultural excellence.
Noah’s passion for giant pumpkins connects him to a centuries-old tradition of competitive horticulture. He’s relatively new to the hobby, but his efforts are rooted in a legacy that stretches back nearly 200 years.
The story of giant pumpkins in North America began in the mid-19th century, when Henry David Thoreau, the famed American naturalist, stumbled upon seeds and soil that allowed him to grow a pumpkin weighing over 45 kilograms. While modest by today’s standards, this achievement marked one of the earliest recorded instances of pumpkin cultivation on such a scale.
By the time of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, growers had pushed the pumpkin’s size to 150 kilograms, a record set by William Warnock from Goderich, Ontario.
The modern era of giant pumpkin growing, however, only gained momentum in the 1980s, when Canadian grower Howard Dill pioneered the Atlantic Giant variety by crossing several mammoth lines. Today, virtually all record-breaking pumpkins trace their lineage back to Dill’s innovations. “They’ve been doing this for years, and just growing bigger and bigger and bigger pumpkins,” Noah explained.
The key, he says, is access to seeds from the biggest growers in the world. “That’s probably the number one thing — you need seeds from the biggest in the world to grow the biggest.”
The race for the world’s largest pumpkin has become as fierce as it is inspiring. In 2011, a squash expert at the New York Botanical Garden predicted that a one-ton (900 kg) pumpkin would appear by 2014 — a forecast that came true ahead of schedule in 2015, when a giant gourd was weighed at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts.
The current world record stands at a staggering 1,247 kilograms, according to BigPumpkins.com, the go-to resource for growers and enthusiasts alike.
Yet Noah isn’t convinced that’s the limit. “I am not reaching the limit. I am nowhere near,” he boldly stated.
He expects that by the end of this year, growers might push the record even further — perhaps to 1,300 kilograms or more.
For Noah’s family, this record-breaking pumpkin wasn’t just a hobby — it was a point of pride. His father, Brian Devisser, who also dabbles in pumpkin growing, attended the fair to witness his son’s success. “I have a feeling I’ll hear more about this for the next 12 months,” Brian joked.
Although Brian has occasionally outgrown his son’s efforts in past years, this time Noah’s pumpkin stole the show — a milestone that both father and son celebrated together.
While Noah’s pumpkin might be impressive in weight, it’s not destined for a dinner table. “They can’t eat the whole thing though,” Brian laughed, explaining that much of the pumpkin would be used as chicken feed once it finishes its festival rounds.
The rest will be composted, serving as nutrient-rich soil for next year’s harvest.
This practical approach reflects a sustainable way of using oversized produce that, while too watery and bland for culinary enjoyment, can still nourish animals and enrich the environment.
Events like the Spencerville Fair Mammoth Pumpkin Stake are about more than records — they bring communities together, celebrate local talent, and inspire future generations of growers.
For many families, fairs provide an opportunity to share knowledge, test new techniques, and form bonds that last beyond harvest season.
Noah’s achievement is a testament to the spirit of agricultural perseverance and innovation — a tradition rooted in both history and community.
With seeds becoming more widely available and techniques continually refined, the pumpkin-growing community is poised for new breakthroughs.
Growers like Noah are blending old wisdom with new data-driven approaches, experimenting with watering schedules, soil composition, and genetic selection to produce gourds larger than ever before.
Experts predict that within a few years, surpassing 1,500 kilograms could be within reach.
Noah Devisser’s record-breaking pumpkin is more than just a novelty — it’s a reflection of patience, science, and community pride. His journey from a curious teenager to a record-setting grower illustrates how agricultural achievements can inspire local pride and global excitement alike.
As pumpkin-growing traditions continue to evolve, growers like Noah remind us that greatness is achieved not through shortcuts but through dedication, care, and respect for the craft.
His 508-kg pumpkin isn’t just a record — it’s a promise that with passion and perseverance, the sky’s the limit.
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