Clifford Picketts, P.E.I. giant pumpkin grower, dead at 81

A Prince Edward Island man known for his ability to grow giant pumpkins has died.

Clifford Picketts of French River was a regular at the Island's annual pumpkin weigh-off, taking the top title many times. The 81-year-old also won the Maritime competition held in Nova Scotia.

P.E.I. Giant Pumpkin Growers Association president Gordon Aten said Picketts helped get the association off the ground.

"I remember him telling me one time, people were asking him for the secret of growing a giant pumpkin and he said 'Well, the secret is, there is no secret.' He just had that touch," Aten said.

'A great gardener'

Aten notes that Picketts held the Island record for the heaviest pumpkin grown on P.E.I. and weighed at an Island site. It came in at almost 548 kilograms.

He said Picketts had the magic touch when it came to gardening.

"He was a great gardener. He knew how to grow big tomatoes and long gourds and you should have seen the beans he had growing there," Aten said.

Picketts' funeral will be held Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at the Davison Funeral Home in Kensington.

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