Anybody can grow a 200 pound pumpkin, but the largest ones involve a lot of work.
“It’s more work than some people realize,” said racecar driver turned pumpkin extraordinaire Edwin Pierpont from Jefferson.
Pierpont nearly broke a state record when his pumpkin won the big weigh-off at the Cumberland County fair weighing 1129 pounds. The current state record for heaviest pumpkin is 1130 pounds. The world record, by the way, is somewhere in the order of 1689 pounds, from a North Scituate Rhode Island grower.
Many people will participate in the third annual pumpkin festival this October in Damariscotta, which involves a weigh-off of pumpkins, prizes, a boat race, art contests and parade, all to raise funds for charity.
“The festival this year will be bigger and better than last year,” said Pinkham. “You won’t want to miss it.”
Pierpont and his brother, Steve, have a jump on the growing process. Pinkham said people usually start their plants, which he has been giving away, in mid-May. He said his store gave away close to 300 plants last weekend and still anticipates groups such as the Cub Scouts and 4-H coming to start projects.
The Jefferson pumpkin grower started his plants in mid-April in a heated greenhouse and thinks he has roughly three or four weeks’ head start. Last year, participating in the Damariscotta pumpkin festival, Pierpont used a shop light for a giant jack-o-lantern that stood four feet tall. He also carved a giant (796 pound) squash into a boat and sailed it in the Damariscotta River.
“They’re fun,” he said of floating around in a squash boat. “They’re not much different than keeping afloat in a canoe.”
Pierpont said he normally grows other vegetables, too, but has retired the rest of the garden to his fiancée. Growing pumpkins takes up all his garden time outside of a regular full-time food delivery job.
He credits Pinkham’s Plantation for getting him started. Pierpont said he got into growing pumpkins two years ago when Pinkham’s Plantation hosted a seed giveaway. He finished second at the Cumberland County fair with a pumpkin weighing 894 pounds.
In order to be a successful pumpkin grower, Pierpont said one ought to grow at least a 10 foot vine and ideally a 15 foot vine.
“The more plant you have to feed it,” he said, “the better chance you’ll have a larger pumpkin.”
Pierpont leaves 600 square feet per plant, the size of the average garden. He buries the vines as they grow so they don’t dry up and he does a lot of trimming. “They’re like a jungle plant,” he said. “You can see the difference in them from day to day.”
One of the biggest thrills in growing big pumpkins is seeing the surprised look on the faces of children during the pumpkin festival weigh-off, Pierpont said.
This year, Pierpont expects the festival organizers to plan to have a floating finish line for the squash/pumpkin boat race. He said he was a little nervous about motoring his squash full-tilt toward a solid, immovable dock.
Pinkham expects a lot of participants in this year’s pumpkin festival. People have until about mid-June to start to grow a fairly good-sized pumpkin and can still pick up plants at Pinkham’s Plantation.
Pinkham suggests people pick up a pledge sheet to try and raise funds for the festival and a charity of their choice. Folks can pledge one dollar or more per pound or can pledge a single amount per pumpkin. Additionally, businesses and other organizations can participate by pledging one or more pumpkins.
Some folks might be embarrassed to grow a large pumpkin for a prize, Pinkham said, but pledges support local charity and the continuance of the festival, making it beneficial for area businesses and non-profit organizations. Many people will recall Main St. Damariscotta lined with giant, wildly painted pumpkins.
“Besides, part of the festival is it puts a lot of smiles on faces,” Pinkham said. “People need a smile in these economic times.”
Pinkham mentioned Togus the Cat, the Channel 6 News mascot, who is growing a pumpkin patch himself and has a Facebook page.
“If Togus the Cat can do it, anybody can,” Pinkham said.
The event has gotten a lot of attention. Last year the Damariscotta Riverfront attracted several news and entertainment reporters among hordes of people, including Bill Green, Discovery and Downeast Magazine. The event was also honored by the presence of Senator Susan Collins. Pinkham said there are several video clips on YouTube depicting scenes of the festival.
The Columbus Day drawing, when the weigh-off takes place at season’s end, gives those participants a chance to win gift certificates and other prizes. Pinkham said he wasn’t sure yet where the weigh-off will take place. It could be at his business, as it was last year.
People will soon be able to check for information on the pumpkin festival as it develops at: www.damariscottapumpkinfest.com.
