John de Jong, Peter Hobson and Neil Jackson are resurrecting a mega pumpkin competition and are encouraging pumpkin pundits and newcomers young and old to procure their entries.
“It’s not quite growing conditions yet but we’re getting close enough, now is the time to get the seedlings,” John says.
He says entrants could also do so closer to the weigh-in on 6 April next year at Hotel Motueka since 120 days were required for the behemoth fruits to mature.
The idea sprouted over a pint at Hotel Motueka, so it’s a fitting location for the weigh-in and prizegiving to take place.
Peter says while it’s still early for the seedlings to germinate due to cold soil, he suspects better growing conditions will stem in the next fortnight.
He says with this in mind, it was also an ideal time for entrants to prepare their patch to be free draining and have organic matter so it could leach into the soil for the seedlings to be planted, and visit www.giantpumpkins.co.nz for pointers.
Close to 100 pumpkin seedlings grown by John and Peter will be available from Mitre 10 Motueka, a competition sponsor, with the plant purchase also counting as the competition’s entry fee which is $10.
If seedlings become depleted at Mitre 10, contact details can be left with staff who will get in touch once they’re restocked.
Pumpkin seedlings could be purchased at other reputable seedling dealers, but a $10 entry fee must still be paid, which can be made on weigh-in day.
John says the competition’s purpose was to be family friendly and if entrants’ pumpkins aren’t exactly plump, different prize categories will be at play for juniors, the average weight or the monstrosity.
