Pumpkin pie?

Photo by Linda Robertson.
Photo by Linda Robertson.

Joe van Alphen routinely wins awards for his dahlias and tulips but it is his pumpkins that have been getting the attention lately.

A keen flower gardener, the 83-year-old tried his hand with pumpkins for the first time this year.

His first attempt, from a plant bought at a hardware store, grew so large it became the centre of a competition at Chatsford Retirement Village where he lives.

Residents have been guessing its weight and last week it was revealed as 35.5kg.

Mr van Alphen was surprised at the size of the pumpkin given it nearly died but believed it could have been bigger if he had removed a smaller pumpkin.

''I'm not so good at vegetables. I like flowers,'' he confessed.

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