Today was an amazing day at Hicks Nurseries! 13 GIANT pumpkin growers competed for prizes and bragging rights at the nurseries’ 15th annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off in Westbury.

The competition brought entries from all over Long Island including the towns of East Northport, Northport, Commack, Huntington, Dix Hills, Mill Neck and Hicksville.

Scott Armstrong of Commack grows 1,623 pound pumpkin.  “It takes 5½ months from seed to weigh off day to grow a pumpkin,” said Scott Armstrong, winner of today’s competition with a 1,623 pound pumpkin. His goal for next year? “To better my personal best is always the goal!”

 

 

 

 

Nels Freund Nelson Wins Second PlaceSecond place winner Nels Freund-Nelson grew a 516 lb. pumpkin. He favors Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds and grows his pumpkins 100% organically. “These pumpkins do not taste like our traditional American pumpkin, they taste more like a zucchini. I make everything out of them – giant pumpkin parmesan, pumpkin bread, everything you can make with a zucchini I make with these.”

 

 

 

 

Frankie Rasizzi Wins Third PlaceOur youngest pumpkin grower of the day was Frankie Rasizzi, who won third place with a 464 pounder. A member of his schools garden club, Frankie learned a lot about how to grow pumpkins from his earth science teacher Mr. Boyd last year and decided to try growing on his own at home this year.

Learn more about our upcoming events here.