Spud-in-a-bucket challengers on home straight

GENERATIONS OF GARDENERS: L-R aret Heather Arnold, Daphne Arnold and eight-year-old Lily Arnold. The trio represent three generations of spud in a bucket growers. They compeiting with each other and the rest of the 300 spud-in-a-bucket participants around Gisborne, to see who can grow the most and the heaviest potatoes as a fundraiser for Alzheimers Gisborne. Picture by Liam Clayton

THREE generations of spud-in-a-bucket growers have their sights set on weigh-in day next week.

The annual Spud-in-a-Bucket Challenge to raise money for Alzheimers Gisborne is drawing to a close.

Weigh-in day is on Saturday. Green fingers around town have been duking it out in solitude in backyards, greenhouses and sheds, to see who can grow the most and the heaviest batch of spuds.

Daphne Arnold, Heather Arnold and Lily Arnold, 8, represent three generations of gardeners who are hoping their spuds take out the top titles.

Lily is pretty confident she has it in the bag over mum Heather and Grandmother Daphne.

“Mine is really big and theirs are shrivelling up. I have been putting lots of water on it. One day I put too much and it almost overflowed.”

This is the third year they have taken part in the event says Heather, who works as an assistant at the Sherwood Club.

“We all have our own little secrets. Last year we did not grow many but we did get enough to throw in the pot that night.”

Daphne says sharing the event with her daughter and granddaughter is a lot of fun.

“Going to the weigh-in and watching everyone come in is great. They all think they have grown lots because they have marvellous tops, but then they end up getting only three or four.

“We actually have quite a large family and there are around 10 of us taking part. We all try to beat each other. It is just a bit of fun for a good cause.”

This year nearly 300 spud-in-a- bucket packs, consisting of a bucket and a single potato, were sold for $10. That, plus a few donations, has so far raised more than $3000 for Alzheimers Gisborne.

The weigh-in will take place at Bunnings Warehouse from 9am to 11am Saturday December 12.