James and the giant pumpkin: Port aux Basques man grows 819-pound whopper

It took nearly six months, but James Osmond has a massive 819-pound pumpkin on his western Newfoundland lawn to show for his gardening efforts.

The 75-year-old man started growing the pumpkin in May at his summer home in the Codroy Valley usingheating pads and seeds from a 1,700 pound pumpkin.

"Back in August [the pumpkin] was putting on weight anywhere between, I say, 28-34 pounds every two days," Osmond told the Corner Brook Morning Show.

Osmond has been growing pumpkins for a couple of decades, but took interest in growing large ones 17 years ago afterproducing one that reached 200 pounds.

His experiment grewinto a yearly pastime.

"I just do it. That's me hobby, I enjoy it," he said.

Osmondkeeps track of his pumpkins in a log, andups the ante eachyear.

This year's 819-pound whopper is his biggestyet.

Earlier this month,Osmondand his wife, Arthena, strapped the pumpkin onto a wooden palletand used a come-along to get it on board their truck to bring it to their home in Port aux Basques.

Since the pumpkin landed on the Osmond's front lawn, it's been getting a lot of attention.

"I get the kids by the scores coming here to get their pictures taken," said Osmond, who has decorated the pumpkin since bringing it to his house.

Osmondsaidafter Halloween he'll use a saw to cut the pumpkin into pieces and bring it to the dump but he doesplanto keep some ofthe seeds for next year's grow.