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Tiny Margin Decides Giant Pumpkin Title
5 Oct
Summary
- Jordan Abbate's 1,485-pound pumpkin narrowly won the top prize.
- New provincial records were set for a giant squash and long gourd.
- The competition follows Great Pumpkin Commonwealth rules, a global organization.
The 2026 B.C. Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, held in Langley, saw colossal gourds compete across eight categories, with only a single pound separating the top two giant pumpkins. Jordan Abbate from Kelowna claimed victory with his 1,485-pound pumpkin, narrowly surpassing the runner-up grown by Team Halliday, which weighed 1,484 pounds.
Abbate dedicated several months to growing his prize-winning gourd, spending a couple of hours daily on watering, pruning, and soil maintenance. The competition adheres to Great Pumpkin Commonwealth guidelines, which oversees approximately 800 events globally each year. This marked the 13th year for the B.C. event.
This year's weigh-off broke provincial records, with a 1,149-pound squash and a 131.5-inch long gourd setting new benchmarks. These heavy competitors require specialized equipment like forklifts for handling. Event emcee Jeff Pelletier noted that giant pumpkins can gain up to 60 pounds daily during their peak growth phase, comparing the six-month cultivation period to nurturing a pet.
