WAUPUN, Wis. (CBS 58) — An enormous gourd weighing in at 2,046 lbs. is placing Southeast Wisconsin on the map for the state’s greatest pumpkin. Tom Montsma, grower of the pumpkin stated his creation is rooted in a promise he made to his later mom.

Montsma, an avid gardener, stated at this second, his pumpkin is the most important gourd within the state. He stated he put his gardening abilities to the check to battle for the Wisconsin Giants Pumpkin Growers competitors.

“Being a gardener, competitive pumpkin growing has been part of my life so yeah now I’m getting the label ‘ oh you’re the guy the grows the big pumpkins,'” stated Montsma.

He’s been competing for seven years. He stated his gourd grows from 40 as much as 50 lbs. a day. His secret ingredient? Good soil.

“I feed a lot of fish and seaweed fertilizer two to three four times a week,” stated the gardener.

Hitting his two-thousand-pound mark meant extra to Montsma as a result of it was a milestone he promised he’d obtain for his mom.

“This one’s really special because we lost my mom in 2012 to cancer and before she passed away, I made a promise to her that someday I will grow a big pumpkin in her memory.”

The big gourd will be discovered on the Tom Dooley Apple Orchard in Waupun.