Pothole the 480-kilogram pumpkin on track to outgrow Newfoundland’s famed Gourdzilla

St. John's - Heavy equipment operator Leslee Lake has begun replacing Newfoundland's famous pumpkin, Gourdzilla, with his own creation, Pothole. Weighing as much as a grand piano, Pothole is estimated to be 482 kilograms, poised to surpass the previous record set by Gourdzilla in 2022. Lake and his wife, Krista, have dedicated themselves to growing massive pumpkins, with Lake even playing heavy metal music for the gourd and using milk and molasses to nourish it.

Despite the cancellation of their annual pumpkin festival, Pothole will still be officially weighed and later eaten. Lake emphasizes that anyone can achieve such feats with sufficient time, patience, and financial resources.