Repeat champion wins $7,000 for 1,967-pound pumpkin
Ruben Frias and one of his sons watch the weigh-off for his giant pumpkin, which proved to be the 2024 winner at 1,967 pounds. Courtesy Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival
It didn’t top a ton, but it came mighty close.
Past champion Ruben Frias once again took home top honors at the 30th annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival with a massive 1,967-pound pumpkin.
The humongous cream-colored gourd beat dozens of other hefty squash during Saturday’s weigh-off in Elk Grove Park.
A regular pumpkin competitor and past Elk Grove winner, Frias grows his pumpkins in American Canyon. Frias placed second last year with a 1,723-pounder. (The winner weighed 1,940 pounds.)
“The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off has been the heart of the festival since day one, and growers like Ruben have helped it grow into Elk Grove’s largest family event,” said the organizers. “Ruben first competed in 2009—the same year he took home his first win—and now, 15 years later, he’s reclaimed the title! His hard work, along with the support of his family, earned them a $7,000 grand prize and a place in festival history.”
After the win became official, Frias’ two kids piled on the pumpkin for a photo (and tipped the scales past the 2,000-pound mark). So far, Frias’ prized pumpkin is the biggest in California in 2024.
How long will the record stand? Maybe a week; Half Moon Bay’s 51st annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off is set for next Monday, Oct. 14. Last year’s contest produced a world record pumpkin: 2,749 pounds. Grown in Minnesota, that pumpkin traveled cross country for the weigh-off.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
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Garden Checklist for week of April 27
Once the clouds clear, get to work. Spring growth is in high gear.
* Set out tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash. Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom. Late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant lettuce and cabbage seedlings.
* Weed, weed, weed! Don’t let unwanted plants go to seed.
* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.
* Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.
* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.
* Start thinning fruit that's formed on apple and stone fruit trees -- you'll get larger fruit at harvest (and avoid limb breakage) if some is thinned now. The UC recommendation is to thin fruit when it is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. Peaches and nectarines should be thinned to about 6 inches apart; smaller fruit such as plums and pluots can be about 4 inches apart. Apricots can be left at 3 inches apart. Apples and pears should be thinned to one fruit per cluster of flowers, 6 to 8 inches apart.
* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
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