Russell Scott hopes to give the judges pumpkin to talk about at the upcoming giant pumpkin competition.
With the weigh-in just over a fortnight away, the Motueka local jokes that he might be sitting on first, second and third prize.
He will likely have some gourd competition, however, with 44 giant pumpkin plants sold at Mitre 10 under the contest’s umbrella, and no doubt others grown from seed that will now be plumping up in sections around the district.
Despite his vast and varied vegetable garden, Russell has never before grown giant pumpkins, but it appealed to him to give something different a go.
He reckons he has not given his one giant pumpkin plant too much special treatment, besides a bit of fish fertiliser and “the odd bottle of beer”.
After the weigh-in, he’ll be designating the gourds as cattle or chicken fodder, but first, he has to get the fruits of his labour to the Motueka Hotel.
“I don’t know how the hell I’m going to move them,” he ponders, eyeing up the hefty cucurbits.
The giant pumpkin competition was resurrected by friends John de Jong, Peter Hobson and Neil Jackson, who remember fondly the Māpua-based event which ceased about a decade ago.
John says the categories will include heaviest pumpkin by both an individual and a community group, closest to average weight, ugliest, and - for those who want to get creative – there’s also an “arty farty” award.
Children are also encouraged to enter, with best-dressed and arty-farty categories for their prize pumpkins too.
There will be spot prizes on offer, and any variety of pumpkin is welcome at the judging table, he says.
The event has been well-supported with a host of sponsors, including the Motueka Hotel, Scotts Hir-A-Bin, Mitre 10 Motueka, Image Creators, Abel Tasman Seashutttles, Ngarua Caves, Stonescape, Complete Water Solutions, and Juicies, with a special mention to Victoria Gardens for growing the plants ready for sale.
John says their hope for the competition is to inspire young people into growing plants – and not necessarily just pumpkins, he reckons.
“We are looking forward to having a fun day for the community,” he says. The weigh-in is on Sunday, April 6, from 1pm-3pm at the Motueka Hotel.
Registration is $10, which was included in the cost of the giant pumpkin plant for those who purchased one from Mitre 10. Participants can also register on weigh-in day.
