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Giant Pumpkin Competition |
The annual Giant Pumpkin Competition is for young people who are aged 15 and under. Below we have some advice on how to grow a large pumpkin, the rules, prizes and entry information and finally some pumpkin recipes.
Rules
1. Pumpkins will be judged by weight alone. The heaviest pumpkin being the winner.
2. Pumpkins MUST be in sound condition with no splits, holes, cracks or rot that penetrates the pumpkin wall
3. Only one entry per household.
4. Each pumpkin grower must submit the weight in kilos on or before 20th October.
5. Any person entering a pumpkin must have grown the pumpkin themselves
6. Pumpkin growers may grow as many plants as they wish, indoor or outdoors.
7. Pumpkin growers must be 15 and under.
8. Main Carrickfergus in Bloom Competition rules apply (see details).
Prizes
Winner: 30.00 Gift Voucher
Runner Up: 20.00 Gift Voucher
plus 20 Carrickfergus in Bloom goody bags for the runners-up.
How to Enter
To enter the competition Click Here. You can also download our pumpkin record card to keep track of your pumpkins growth. For growing advise see below or download the information sheet.
To view application forms you may need to download Adobe pdf Reader.
To keep in touch with all Carrickfergus in Bloom activities, join our mailing list: Click Here. To contact Carrickfergus in Bloom by e-mail: Click Here or telephone 028 9335 8039.
Growing Advice
1. Getting Started. To grow huge pumpkins you need to start with the right seed. You can buy your own seeds or we can give you some free (click here to receive your seeds). The seeds we are supplying are "Dills Atlantic Giant". In April or May sow the seed 2cm deep in small pots of compost. The pot should be watered, drained and a clear plastic bag or cling film placed over the pot to keep it warm. Pumpkins need quite a bit of heat to germinate, so the pot should be put in a warm place like the kitchen or airing cupboard. They should start to germinate in a few days, and should then be moved to a well lit warm position to grow on. As soon as the first true pumpkin leaf is expanded (the first two leaves are seed leaves, the first true leaf follows these) the pumpkin should be potted on into a much larger pot, which needs to be kept indoors until the start of June. If you have any problems, or your seed does not germinate, contact us straight away for some help.
2. The Perfect Home. Although you will not be planting your pumpkin out until June, you should try and get the bed ready for it as soon as you can. Pumpkins love hours of glorious sun with their roots wriggling with delight in well drained soil, rich with the finest manure. They hate, damp boggy soil and long hours of shade, so it's important to find the perfect spot to grow your pumpkin. Once you've found the right spot, you need to prepare it. This involves digging over the bed and working plenty of well rotted manure or compost into the soil. Pumpkins take up a lot of room, and will need to be planted about 1.5 to 1.8 metres apart so make sure you have enough room. Remember to make sure you wash your hands after digging in the garden or using manure.
3. Planting Out. The pumpkin plants should be ready to transplant into the garden after the last frost (late May or early June), but they should be ‘hardened-off’ first. To do this the pots can be covered with cloches outside. The pumpkins should be planted about 1.5 to 1.8 metres apart and watered in gently.
4. Watering & Feeding. Pumpkins are also very thirsty plants and during their growing season, should be watered daily. They will need up to 11 litres of water a week.
5. Pollination & Thinning. Pumpkins have male and female flowers. With luck they will both be in flower at the same time and as the bees and other insects move from flower to flower they will pollinate your pumpkin. At this time you need to look at your plants regularly. To grow large pumpkins, you should only allow two or three pumpkins to develop on each plant. Remove surplus fruits while still small. This means the plant will put all its energy into growing just a few really large pumpkins.
6. Harvesting (October). Pumpkins are ready for harvesting when the stems start to dry and the skins harden. They should be carefully cut with a sharp knife (ask an adult to help you with this), leaving as long a stalk as possible.
Pumpkin Facts
Pumpkin Fact 1: Pumpkins contain beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer as well as protecting against heart disease while pumpkin seeds are second only to peanuts for their protein content.
Pumpkin Fact 2: Not many people know that a pumpkin is 90 per cent water and were once recommended for removing freckles.
Pumpkin Recipes
1) Grilled Pumpkin Salad - Give your picnic a Mediterranean flavour with this satisfying salad. (Serves 4).
Ingredients: 100g Parma Ham, cut into squares. 200g fresh pumpkin, peeled. two tbsp olive oil. 200g rocket. 50g black olives, pitted. Extra olive oil to serve.
Method: 1) Fry the Parma ham in a non stick pan until crispy. 2) Cut the pumpkin into thin slices and coat thoroughly with the olive oil. 3) Cook under a medium to hot grill for five to ten minutes, turning once, until golden and soft. 4) Arrange pumpkin, Parma ham, rocket and olives on serving plates. 5) Drizzle with oil and season to taste.
2) Pumpkin and Apple Soup - warm you and your family up with this satisfying soup. (Serves 6)
Ingredients: two onions, peeled and chopped, one clove garlic, peeled and crushed, one tbsp olive oil, 500g pumpkin, skinned, seeded and cubed, two baking apples, peeled, cored and chopped, 570ml vegetable stock, 300ml dry cider or apple juice, two sprigs fresh sage, salt and pepper.
Method: 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions and the garlic. Cook for two minutes and then add the pumpkin, chopped apples and sage. 2. Cook for another two minutes, season well and add the stock and the cider or apple juice. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the ingredients are tender. 3. Liquidise and serve piping hot with crusty bread.
Keep in Touch
To keep in touch with all Carrickfergus in Bloom activities, join our mailing list: Click Here. To contact Carrickfergus in Bloom by e-mail: Click Here or telephone 028 9335 8039.
The Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative is organised by Carrickfergus Borough Council.
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Carrickfergus Borough Council developed the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative to brighten up the Borough,
to become a Borough of Flowers. Our objective is to make a Brighter Borough for the benefit of all citizens and visitors.
The Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative includes the Borough towns of Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Eden and Greenisland.
Carrickfergus Borough is located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
