In the pumpkin patch

The pumpkins grown by Sandy Point resident Francis Campbell would be more fitting as transportation to the Ball than a jack-o-lantern on a doorstep.

Campbell is one of the local growers this year to compete.

As he measures his gigantic pumpkin, whose leaves have taken up a considerable amount of space in his garden, his tape reads the pumpkin to measure 12 ft round.

“I hope she makes it to market,” said Campbell as he scrutinizes one of the larger pumpkins in his patch.

Although it may be in great shape now, Campbell worries the pumpkin will grow too fast and split at its stem before the official judging at Uncle Sid’s on Oct 6, disqualifying the pumpkin from the competition.

Campbell has paid his crop the loving attention it deserves since planting the Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin seed in May.

By July, a flower had sprouted and once the pumpkin reached the height of its growing stage, it was gaining a good 20 pounds each day.

“You should watch what’s going on about one hour per day,” informed Campbell.

He watered the plant every day in the height of the summer and gave it fertilizer to help along its growth.

The hard part, Campbell explained, is actually getting the pumpkin to the competition.

Helpful things to have during those times, laughed Campbell, are many strong friends.

They drag the heavy pumpkin to his 4x4 using fishnet and park the truck as close to the scale as possible once at the competition grounds.

Although he has won a few of the competitions in the past with his heaviest pumpkin weighing 701 pounds, he remembers his first year entering in 1987 with a grin.

“I was too embarrassed to take the pumpkin out of my car,” he said, “let’s just say it was so small it fit into my trunk.”

He encourages new growers to compete next year to help boost the growth of the annual event.

“There are only a few dedicated growers left here,” he said, “and we will give out both secrets and seeds to anyone who’s interested.”