Brian Werner poses with Scarface; an Atlantic Giant headed to Bishops Pumpkin Patch to compete in a weigh-in. Photo by Seti Long

BIGGS, CA (MPG) – Local Brian Werner has been growing Atlantic Giant pumpkins for roughly 25 years and is once again hauling his behemoths to weigh-ins throughout the north state.

The Gridley Herald caught up with Werner at one of his growing sites and was given an exclusive look at two of his promising gourds before they hit the road.

Werners hopeful this year, named “Scarface” due to a small scar on the infant pumpkin, is currently measuring close to previous winners, but Werner won’t know until it gets on a scale.

The giant pumpkin farmer starts his plants on the same date in April every year and says that one of the most difficult parts of the process is pollinating the pumpkins.

The Atlantic Giants at Werners patches are hand-pollinated and he shares that it’s a delicate process. He hand-strips the male flower from one plant and the female from another, carefully rubbing them together. Once pollen is shared between them, Werner ties the female bloom closed with a rubber band to prevent fertilization from a natural bee. Werner refers to the natural process of pollination as “open pollination.”

“Nobody is going to want the seed, no matter if it was the best seed in the world.” Says Werner of open pollination. Keeping a pure genetic line is imperative to growing the pumpkins.

Growers of the massive gourds look at the genetics of the seeds and put an emphasis on growing pumpkins with a pure lineage. Growers pay close attention to the parental lineage of the seeds they choose to grow and save the seeds of heavy hitters for future years.

Werner holds the flowers of a male and female pumpkin, as he illustrates how hand-pollination occurs. Closed pollination is ideal for growing a Atlantic Giant pumpkin. Photo by Seti Long

Giant Pumpkins are “taped” or measured over the top, around the circumference and weighed, with the resulting measurements averaged for a “% heavy” number.

“In my mind, a really heavy pumpkin is what a lot of people this that’s important,” Werner says, because in his experience, one gourd may tape more than another, but its “% heavy” is where the additional weight comes from. It refers to the density of the gourd’s meat and inside structure.

Werner is set to transport Scarface to the National Pumpkin Weigh-Off this coming Saturday, Sept. 27 at Bishops Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland.

Growers from all over the United States will gather to showcase their grows, with weigh-in beginning at 11 a.m. and the top 10-heavist weighed at 2 p.m.

In the past Werners pumpkins have been among the top heaviest - he nearly took the championship in 2021, but lost by a mere 95-lbs.

Werners dreams of winning a sought-after Growers Jacket awarded to the growers of the world’s largest pumpkin.

After Bishops, Werner will travel to the 53rd Annual Art & Pumpkin Festival in Half-Moon Bay with his beauties for a chance at winning the coveted title of the World Champion Giant Pumpkin for the year of 2025.