Giant Pumpkin Competition

Malanda Show 2021 Greatest Pumpkin Growing Competition & Scarecrow Competition

In 2019 we re-introduced the Giant Pumpkin Growing Competition and what a success it was despite the wet start to the year.

Competition Seeds are available free at the Show Office, Malanda Meat Co & Beattie Produce. Although all efforts are made to ensure viability, the organizers take no responsibility for germination.

Nomination Information
Download Schedule Now! 2021 GIANT PUMPKIN COMPETITION

Entries close  Wednesday the 23rd of June at 6pm. Exhibits will be delivered and collected at growers’ own expense, collection after 3 pm on the Sunday 27th of June.

Entry fee of $5.00 per pumpkin

  • Entries must have been grown by the Grower or Team

Heaviest Pumpkin & Best Decorated Pumpkin

Rules

  • Your entry cannot be weighed at any other location, all specimens will be weighed without tarps or lifting/carrying devises. Official weigh in will take place at Malanda Showgrounds.
  • No foreign material eg. Fungicides, skin additives, etc will be permitted in the weighing of the pumpkin, vines must be trimmed to within 25cm of the stem.
  • Judges have the right to inspect all pumpkins before the weighs and measurements become official. Refusal of inspection will make entry an exhibit only.
  • Pumpkin must be sound, healthy and undamaged. Entries must be free of rot, holes, cracks or chemical residue, through the cavity and no soft spots.
  • “Grower” is defined as a person who has grown and cared for the pumpkin- planting to harvest.
  • “Team” is defined as two or more Growers that exhibit together.
  • In the event of a tie, the money will be distributed evenly between the tied parties
  • Judge’s decision is final

Growing Tips

  1. Pumpkins take around five to six months to grow.
    1. Three months for the vine to grow and a further three months for the pumpkin to grow.
    2. You are advised to plant the seeds early in the new year.
  2. Prepare growing bed by digging in well-rotted manure and compost to one (1) metre depth.  The area needs a good sunny position, well-drained and protected from winds and needs to be well-watered.
  3. When flowers have set, ensure pollination by picking a male flower and hand-pollinating the female flower (female flowers have a swelling at the base of the stalk).  Stagger planting of seeds if you like.
  4. When a fruit is set (the size of a melon of soccer ball), place a bed of straw, newspaper or foam underneath the chosen fruit to ensure it does not dis-colour.
  5. Pumpkin will need watering, protection from wind, and feeding. The pumpkin vine does not like frost,
  6. You are advised to keep one pumpkin per vine, so all the nutrients transfer to the one fruit.  The hard decision will be to select ‘the best’ pumpkin initially.
  7. Keep fingers crossed until pumpkin begins to swell, keep feeding and watering.

Good Luck. Children and Adults of all ages welcome to join the fun!