'It took four to five people to lift it into the car!': Servatius and his gigantic Limerick pumpkin

A LIMERICK history and geography teacher could give grinds in engineering and horticulture as he has gone from building giant snowmen to growing humongous pumpkins!

Servatius Antonius and his friends built a 23 feet high snowman in Elton last January. They called it Big Bill (pictured below).

Now, Servatius has grown three massive pumpkins with one named The North Mon-ster after the school he teaches in in Cork city.

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Servatius doesn’t know how much they weigh as they broke his weighing machine!

However, he estimates the biggest pumpkin is between 110-120kg (17 to 19 stone).

“Let's just say it took four to five people to lift it into the car. Three weeks ago when the pumpkin was still on the vine, the pumpkin measured around 80cm long and 60-70cm wide.”

Servatius has shared the fruits of his labour as one pumpkin went to Dublin, and two are in Cork. However, he will bring the giant pumpkin home and put it on display over Halloween in Elton.

They were grown in his garden in Elton but not in a greenhouse.

“If they were grown in a greenhouse they would have been even bigger! I sowed the seeds in early April at the kitchen window and planted them outside in mid-May. 

“The secret is to grow seeds from a big pumpkin variety such as Atlantic Giants. As the plant gets bigger you bury the vines and train them with bamboo sticks so the plant has enough air flow and will root into the soil,” explained Servatius.

He continued: “The plant will grow over 10 metres long and wide but you only leave one pumpkin grow on the plant so all the nutrients and energy go to the one pumpkin. 

“They are heavy feeders so giving them calcium,  magnesium,  nitrogen, and especially potassium, will allow your pumpkin to grow massive. The soil will have to be well rotavated so the roots can easily grow as deep as possible.”

Servatius will be a popular teacher this week as students will get the chance to carve the giant pumpkin.

“I will have a word with my principal and vice-principal about how we will carve or decorate the pumpkin. I will get some of my first years to do the work as I'm sure they will love to, and it would be a great experience for them. I can't wait to see their reaction!

“The pumpkin will return to Elton to prepare for Halloween this Friday, October 24 when North Monastery Secondary School breaks for mid-term.

“The locals, especially the kids, are going to love it! Elton had Big Bill the giant snowman earlier this year, and now Elton will have the giant North Mon-ster. More big things to come in Elton!” smiled Servatius.