It will be hosted in the grounds of local company and event sponsor Charlie Carp on Saleyards Rd, Deniliquin, on what would have been show day — Saturday, March 5.
Event stewards Ken Allitt and John Russell, and longtime helper Mary Allitt, said they did not want to see the efforts of growers go to waste.
To be an ideal size for the Deniliquin Show competition, it is recommended to get the giant pumpkin seeds in the ground by October or November. The fruit then usually reaches maturity in about 120 days.
With so many seeds in the ground long before the Deniliquin Pastoral & Agricultural Society made its decision on the show, the organisers wanted to reward those who got started early.
‘‘The Giant Atlantic Pumpkin Competition sees entrants come from as far as Coleambally,’’ Mrs Allitt said.
‘‘While the show’s cancellation was unexpected, producers had put months of work into their entries and were hoping to compete in some way.
‘‘So the Charlie Carp showing idea was born.
‘‘Having the event at Charlie Carp is also a way of showcasing the business, which has been the competition;s sponsor from the start.
‘‘We will also have a largest watermelon competition.
‘‘Weigh-in for the junior and open competitions will be at noon on March 5, so you have to make sure you have your pumpkins and watermelons delivered to the Charlie Carp yard well before this time.
‘‘The traditional guess the weight of the pumpkin will also continue this year. You can view the pumpkin and enter in the Deniliquin CBD the week leading up to judging.’’
Among those entering the one-off, standalone event in March is Amelia and five year-old Reggie Seignior.
The mother-son duo have attempted to submit an entry for the last three competitions, but have met tragedy every time.
‘‘The first year we grew the pumpkins at the farm, but they were too close to other pumpkins and the cross pollination meant they did not grow as big.
‘‘The next year we grew them in the yard at Seig Sheep & Wool, but I think we fertilised them too late and they exploded at the bottom.
‘‘Last year the seedling dies before we could even get it in the ground.’’
With an ‘as little intervention as possible’ method this year, the Seigniors currently have three promising pumpkins on the vine.
‘‘We haven’t really had to do much,’’ Mrs Seignior said.
‘‘We’ve let the weeds grow up around the vines because we have not wanted to test our luck with spraying.
‘‘We have a constant drip of water, and we pluck off some of the smaller pumpkins as they appear so all the energy is concentrated on just a few.
‘‘Near the end we’ll put all concentration just in to our best one.’’
The Seigniors’ pumpkin will be entered in to the junior competition under Reggie’s name.
The youngster, who started Kindergarten with Deni North just last week, helped with the planting of the pumpkins, and the family’s personal vegetable patch at home this season.
At the farm they have tomatoes, zucchini and carrots, which Reggie loves to eat straight from the garden.
To participate in the giant pumpkin and watermelon competitions, the cost is $2 per entry.
As well as bragging rights, the winner of the open pumpkin section wins 20 litres of Charlie Carp and $200. Second prize is 10 litres of Charlie Carp and $100, and third is five litres of Charlie Carp and $50.
In the junior section, first attracts 20 litres of Charlie Carp and $60, second is 10 litres of Charlie Carp and $30 and third is five litres of Charlie Carp and $15.
The Giant Atlantic Pumpkin Competition has been a part of the Deni Show schedule for 11 years.
The 10th anniversary event last year was won by Deniliquin farmers Phil and Linda Rumble, with a pumpkin weighing 37.5kg. They also won second with another pumpkin weighing 31.5kg.
A pumpkin weighing almost 40kg might sound like a whopper, but it pales in comparison to the event’s long-running record holder.
Mr Allitt holds the Deni Show record for a 105kg pumpkin he entered in 2016.
As for other show competitions that have been unable to go ahead this year, particularly the pavilion, Deniliquin P&A Society president Chantelle Shevels said partnerships have been formed with other shows.
It will allow entrants to continue through the pathways to the Royal Melbourne Show.
It started with the weekend’s Swan Hill Mini Show, with private judging held on Sunday.
Winners of those sections will continue to regional finals in April, and then on to Melbourne if their success continues.
For more information about the Giant Atlantic Pumpkin Competition, contact Mr Allitt on 5881 4207 or Mr Russell on 5881 3607.
