Giants of the garden

Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society benefits from funds raised at the Bushmere Arms Giant Pumpkin Festival and this year the society is entering the competition. Manager Philippa Meachen is pictured with the largest of three pumpkins growing in a patch outside the society offices at Gisborne Hospital. She had expert advice from Parkview Nursery owner Jared Owen, who provides the seeds. Ms Meachen is looking forward to her first pumpkin festival and the society will provide about 40 volunteers to help on the day. Bushmere Arms owner Robin Pierson started the fund-raiser 16 years ago and last year it raised $12,000 for the charity. Picture by Paul Rickard

It’s almost that time of year when Gisborne’s green thumbs come out to show off their best and biggest pumpkins at the Bushmere Arms Giant Pumpkin Festival.

Organiser Georgina Kemp says more than 130 packets of seed were sold, so that gave some indication of how many pumpkins would be brought in.

“You’ve got to allow for some that never amount to much but we’re hoping for a good show this year.”

All money raised at the festival goes to Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society, who have grown their own pumpkins this year.

The seeds came from Parkview Nursery owner Jared Owen’s giant pumpkin, which originated in the US.

Parkview Nursery sponsors the festival and popular snail races, and Mr Owen always brings his giant pumpkin to the event.

He is pretty happy with the one he has grown this year and believes it is as big as last year’s.

It helps to get the growing pattern right, which means training the plant vines out from the plant and to have one pumpkin growing rather than multiple pumpkins, he says.

Jared Owen protects his giant pumpkin with mouse trapsHe places his pumpkin on a piece of plywood covered with sand and sets mouse traps around the plant.

The cancer society has been growing giant pumpkins outside the office at Gisborne Hospital.

Mr Owen has given them some expert growing advice, such as how to keep the plant healthy with plenty of water and fertiliser.

Cancer Society manager Philippa Meachen said it had been fun to watch the pumpkins grow and they had help from Daryl Gowers, who had been looking after the pumpkin patch and feeding the three decent-sized pumpkins growing there.

The festival relies on the effort of about 40 volunteers and all money raised goes to the society.

Ms Kemp said the event last year was the biggest ever and it could be just as busy again, so they are trying to avoid congestion by preparing for a big crowd.

All the fun of the fair including train, digger and horse rides, scarecrow building and pumpkin throwing“We hope to have some new activities this year but people can expect the same sort of things as previous years — train and horse rides, scarecrow building, the horizontal bungy, ride a digger or throw a pumpkin, pumpkin petanque, among others, as well as a raffle and the winning wheel.

“We also have lots of options for lunch or people can bring a picnic.

“The kids love climbing all over the giant pumpkins. It’s a real village feel on the day.”

As well as $500 prizemoney for the heaviest pumpkin, there is also a luckiest pumpkin prize, which means every pumpkin weighed has a chance to win $200.

“There is over $1500 in prizes up for grabs on the day and every activity is only $2, with free entry to the event.”

Last year was the first time two women claimed the top prizes.

Debbie Gregory was the winner with a 233kg beauty, followed by Jane McBreen with a 213kg pumpkin.

The secret to Ms Gregory’s success was to shade it, she said.

In the final month she removed the cover to let it colour up to a nice bright orange.

The competition is in its 16th year and was started by Bushmere Arms owner Robin Pierson.

The 16th annual Giant Pumpkin Festival will be at Bushmere Arms on Sunday April 8, from 11am until 2pm.It is a free event for the whole family, with plenty of activities for kids to enjoy. There will be food available or people are welcome to bring a picnic.