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The Growing Club was luanched in 2007 and we had some great entries for our pumpkin growing competition.
Here are some photos of the pcik of the crop, grown by young customers at our markets.
Manyt hanks to everyone who entered, more competitions coming next year, 2009.
There will be prizes for the biggest pumpkin and the most interesting pumpkin, so come along and join in the fun. Everyone who takes part will get some free pumpkin recipe sheets to try out at home.
Didn't manage to take part this year? Next year, you could grow one from seed in the spring - it's easier than you think. Come along to the farmers market in the spring and pick up a FREE PLANT - watch local press and keep checking this web site for details of when to collect your free plant.
Every autumn, we will be inviting young growers to come along to our markets and help us to make a pumpkin patch - we will be giving out prizes for the biggest pumpkin and the most interesting pumpkin.
Harvesting your pumpkin;
- It is best to harvest your pumpkin before the frost, as the frost will discolour the skin and make your pumpkin a bit blotchy. Otherwise, cover your pumpkin with a bag to keep the frost off.
- Once you have harvested your pumpkin, keep it in a cool dry place inside until you bring it to the market.
Here are our top tips for growing big pumpkins;
- Keep your plant well watered until you plant it out – you may need to water it every morning if the weather is warm – check that the compost is moist to touch.
- Plant your pumpkin out in the garden – ask a grown-up to help you prepare a small area of ground by digging it over and taking out the weeds. If you can dig in some compost or well-rotted manure, smelly but good for growing BIG pumpkins.
- If you don’t have a garden, you could plant your pumpkin in a large container on a balcony or in the back yard – you will find that the plant completely takes over your balcony – so check with a grown up first.
- Pumpkins are VERY SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER. If there is any chance of a frost, cover your plant well or the frost will kill your plant.
- Watch out for slugs – ask a grown up to put some beer in a saucer by the plant – you will soon have a collection of pickled slugs for the birds to eat.
- Keep checking our web site for ideas of how to grow BIG pumpkins.
- Come back to the market in autumn (we will e-mail you or write you a reminder note) and you can help us make a farmers market pumpkin patch. We will be giving prizes for the BIGGEST pumpkin and the MOST INTERESTING pumpkin.
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