It takes commitment to grow pumpkins weight 1,000+ lbs. Brandon grower Tom Montsma says it takes an hour per day per plant from April to September. He's trying to grow three this year. Growers are wrapping up pollination season, which has to be done by hand. And Tom is seeing success in his garden. Twenty days after pollination is when the pumpkins will start putting on roughly 40 lbs per day. That's a big snack for rodents! Tom says growers have extensive regimes to keep away pests, weeds and disease. Some even circle their pumpkins with mouse traps to keep away vermin. In this heat, Tom put out irrigation to cool the plant down. Sometimes frozen water jugs on the soil will do the trick.

It takes commitment to grow pumpkins weight 1,000+ lbs. Brandon grower Tom Montsma says it takes an hour per day per plant from April to September. He's trying to grow three this year. Growers are wrapping up pollination season, which has to be done by hand. And Tom is seeing success in his garden. Twenty days after pollination is when the pumpkins will start putting on roughly 40 lbs per day. That's a big snack for rodents! Tom says growers have extensive regimes to keep away pests, weeds and disease. Some even circle their pumpkins with mouse traps to keep away vermin. In this heat, Tom put out irrigation to cool the plant down. Sometimes frozen water jugs on the soil will do the trick.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

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