The colossal pumpkins showcased at this year’s Goliat van Gat pumpkin festival and growers competition didn’t just wow spectators with their impressive size – they also filled tummies with hearty meals.
By Marise Schoonraad, journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Forget Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage – this year’s winning pumpkin at Goliat van Gat was so massive it could have been transformed into an entire castle. Wykus Lamprecht of Meyerton dominated the 22nd annual heaviest pumpkin competition with his whopping 653kg giant, marking an exciting debut for the contest’s new home at Pretoria’s Lavender Kontrei Market on Saturday, 14 March.
Lamprecht also entered a 492.3kg squash, a 1kg tomato, a 16.2kg watermelon and a 23.8kg marrow squash. The largest number of pumpkins ever was entered in this year’s competition, says festival organiser Henri Combrink.
The total weight of the pumpkins entered was 4 342kg. All the pumpkins are donated to welfare organisations in and around Pretoria to assist less privileged communities. This year there were almost too many pumpkins and too few organisations, says Combrink. “We are very grateful that we can help even more people this year.” Approximately 2 500 visitors attended this year’s pumpkin festival.
Pumpkins compete on international podium
The Goliat van Gat competition is registered with the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth as an official weigh-in point in South Africa, says Combrink. Winners and weights are published worldwide on the platform, giving growers the opportunity to compete internationally. The current record is 1 274 kg, set by two brothers in England at the end of 2025.
Also read: Enza Zaden showcases next-generation pumpkin varieties at field day
Seeds For Next Year’s Pumpkins
Combrink says the festival organisation makes the seeds available for growers to produce giant pumpkins. When growers register, they also receive production guidelines on how to cultivate these pumpkins. The seeds are usually planted in September and pollinated in December. It then takes about 170 days for the pumpkin to grow and be harvested in March.
The winning pumpkin was displayed at the Uitkyk Vleismark in Silverton, Pretoria, for those who want to see what such a giant pumpkin looks like in real life.
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