By Alexander Violo
Edwin Pierpont of Jefferson stands in front of one of his greenhouses. Pierpont took first place in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at the Cumberland County Fair Sept. 27. His pumpkin weighed in at 1,046 pounds. (Alexander Violo photo) |
A Jefferson man has kept busy this summer tending to his garden in preparation for a number of growing contests at the end of the season.
At the 144th Cumberland County Fair in Cumberland Center Sept. 27, first place at the pumpkin weigh in went to Edwin Pierpont. Pierpont’s entry tipped the scales at 1,046 pounds, earning him the competition’s $500 top prize.
Charlie Lopresti, of Buxton, took second with a pumpkin weighing 961 pounds. Gabe Gaboury, of Chelsea, placed third with an 887 pound fruit.
In total, 30 growers took part in this year’s fair competition.
Pierpont has experienced a substantial amount of success in the past growing prize winning giant squash and giant pumpkin specimens.
He currently holds the state record for giant squash with a 1,264 pound entry that took home first price at the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest in 2013.
He was also a previous record holder in the state’s giant pumpkin category with a 1,471 pound pumpkin entered in the 2010 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest.
The current record holder is Joe Gaboury, of Readfield, whose giant fruit weighed in at 1,695 pounds at the 2014 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest.
Edwin was not the only Pierpont to enjoy success at the Cumberland Fair.
In her first year of competitive growing, Edwin’s wife Bobbie Pierpont, took home the first place prize in the fair’s giant squash category
The couple’s son, Justice Pierpont, has also devoted a large amount of time this summer to growing a large pumpkin and a giant squash.
Justice, who is in his seventh year of growing pumpkins, said this summer has been the best so far.
“I have learned different techniques,” Justice said.
Edwin said he is looking forward to the upcoming Damariscotta Pumpkinfest.
He also said growing a sizeable pumpkin can be a sizable time commitment. “A good pumpkin grows for 100 days,” he said.
According to Edwin, there are many factors that go into growing a prize winning pumpkin including a good seed strain and weather conditions.
Despite the severity of last winter, he said this year had been a successful growing season. “This year has been one of the best,” he said.
Pierpont has a greenhouse for each of his pumpkins and keeps them covered with blankets to protect the fruit from the sun to ensure a healthy outer layer.
Another important aspect of growing a giant pumpkin is keeping it on the plant’s main vine, a process Pierpont said requires a lot of maintenance, including pruning and “deadheading;” removing portions of the vine to promote growth elsewhere, ensuring the plant puts its energy into producing a large pumpkin.
“You want your fruit on the main vine,” Edwin said.
He said the toughest parts about growing the giant pumpkins is finding the time to commit to the task with the weeks from early July through early September absorbing a large amount of hours.
Edwin will be entering a different specimen for the upcoming Pumpkinfest in Damariscotta.
The winner at the Pumpkinfest’s giant pumpkin weigh-in walks away with the grand prize of $2,500.
