John Akkerman and his son, Brian, are about to put their giant pumpkin to the test.

The Akkermans are bringing their giant pumpkin to compete for the title of heaviest pumpkin at the giant pumpkin weigh-off during Stillwater’s Harvest Fest this weekend.

John said he and his son have already been to Nekoosa, Wisconsin, and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and are excited for the competition this weekend.

“This weekend I’ve got a big one going up to Stillwater,” John said of his pumpkin.

Last year, the Akkermans pumpkin weighed about 1,500 pounds, so he has high hopes to beat his record this year.

“I will be thrilled if we make the top 10,” John said.

John’s love for pumpkins started early.

“When I was a kid I always wanted a big pumpkin,” he said.

After Dave Andree gave him some seeds about 15 years ago, John hasn’t looked back.

Now a farmer as well as a hobby pumpkin-grower, John has competed multiple years with his giant pumpkins.

This year, the team grew nine pumpkins — which is more than average according to John, to compete with. One of those, John grew at the Mower County Fairgrounds at the Junior Garden located at the Mower County Fairgrounds east of the 4-H Building and was on display for the fair. That pumpkin, which has already competed and weighed 1,250.5 pounds, is now on display at Jim’s Superfresh for anyone to see.

“We had a lot of people look at it,” John said about the fair display. “Now they can see the end result as they go look at it at Jim’s.”

The process started last fall after the giant pumpkins were harvested. Seeds were saved and dried, and early this spring the seeds were sprouted in an incubator, then planted on April 20. A three foot pit was dug and compost was worked into the soil before the plant was set out on May 1.

Eventually, the fastest growing pumpkin is chosen and the other two are destroyed. A sand base is laid under the pumpkin for better drainage and a snow fence is put around the vines to protect them from the wind. Once established, giant pumpkins drink up to 75 gallons of water a day. They may gain 25-50 pounds in 24 hours. The Akkermans use a secret fertilizer combination two to three times a week along with hormones and fungicides.

John said he never tries to beat anyone else, he only tries to beat his personal best, which is enough competition for him.

“It’s always striving to get a bigger pumpkin,” he said. “It’s in your blood and once you get it you have a hard time walking away from it.”