Big Pumpkin Competition

A number of Beelbangera Public School students spend much of their lunchtime in the pumpkin patch, tending their entries in this year’s Show Giant Pumpkin Competition.

Teacher Kay Catanzariti said the Beelbangera Garden Club had planted 20 seeds last year.

“We started last year when Kerrie Brill contacted us,” Ms Catanzariti said.

“Beelbangera Public School has always been very supportive of the Show. “The kids were very excited, but they have learned, as you do, that not everything always goes to plan.

“We work together even if ours dies, we help others.”

Students learned communication skills, how to work together and support one another and to take responsibility for their organic plants. Ms Catanzariti said the weather had been a bit crazy this past year, but they have managed to grow a decent sized pumpkin, a medium size and one funny one, which they may have difficulty removing. “The kids enjoy going down to the garden at lunchtime,” Ms Catanzariti said. “We also planted butternut pumpkins and I’m making pumpkin soup.

“We’ve got apple trees and I cooked up a lot of granny smith apples and made apply rolls, like sausage rolls.

“We planted rainbow silverbeets and purple and orange carrots.”

Ms Catanzariti said that she like to give the children an opportunity to taste what they grow at the school and they like to try different ways of growing things.

“We are now attempting to grow a pumpkin over an arch,” she said.

“It is about a metre up the arch now and there is a flower on it.

“It is growing amongst our cherry tomatoes.”

In the lead up to the Pumpkin Judging Day, which has been set for Sunday, April 24 at the Showground, competitors have also been urged to practice their cooking and craft skills for the Pavilion Classes.

Judgement Day will enclude the Giant Pumpkins Weigh In, backyard pumpkin judging and the Pavilion Pumpkin Class judging.

So if you can whip up a delicious pumpkin soup, pumpkin scones or pumpkin loaf it is time to start practising.

They will also be judging pumpkin scarecrows and craft featuring pumpkins.

• Topics:

• Gardening
• Agriculture & Farming
• Competitions