Pumpkin power
Last week Stanley and Connie came up to the allotment after school to meet me and help to pick up our two (rather huge) pumpkins. I was slightly worried they'd get nicked as it's getting close to Halloween.
Keith gave us a single 'Atlantic giant' plant in a pot back in the spring which Stan planted directly into a couple of barrow loads of compost. Other than water it a couple of times, limit it to two fruits and cut back some wild growth which was trying to take over the whole plot we have literally done nothing to it. It has however done amazingly well (must have been the wet summer...) and we had two really nice big pumpkins on it.
There was a friendly competition between myself, Manuel and Keith. You know the sort of thing- who can grow the biggest, most macho pumpkin in the World. All in good spirits though. Well Keith certainly won it with around 39 Kilos, we came second with 34 k and Manuel brought up the rear with 32 k (although he said he had one at home which weighed over 60 kilos- yeah right Manuel!) Once it had been weighed I scooped out the insides (saving some for soup and pies, but not all as there was just far too much so the extra went on the compost), and then Connie got here chance to get arty with it and draw a scary face on it so that I could carve it out. Well, even though I am her proud Dad I have to say that Connie did an absolutely fabulous job on it and once we lit and placed the tea lights inside, it looked the absolute business. Really scary-just as it should be. So Stanley grew it, I scooped it and Connie carved it. That's what I call wholesome family fun and that's what the allotment is all about. We'll definitely be growing some more next year. Joe
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