IT may be leading up to Christmas, but the organisers of the Murray River Giant Pumpkin Competition at Cadell are already looking ahead to Easter.
Free giant pumpkin seeds have been released in a number of Riverland, Murrayland and Adelaide Hills outlets to help green thumbs to make their mark on the competition.
Cadell Community and Tourism Association chairman Jason Lukacs said the competition often turned into a family affair.
“Many of our past entrants have been backyard growers and the whole family gets involved,” he said.
“Each Easter, our harvest festival comes alive with everything pumpkin and we hope to have record entrants in 2018”.
The world record for giant pumpkins is 1190.5 kilograms, set by grower Mathias Willemijns at last year’s Giant Pumpkin European Champion in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
The record at Cadell in 390kg and Mid Murray Council mayor Dave Burgess said this had stood for some time.
“We have seen pumpkins of all shapes and sizes during the past years at the Cadell Harvest Festival and no-one has ever beaten the event record of 390kg as yet but we hope to see someone come close next Easter,” he said.
“People love coming to the festival to see the pumpkins and the stories the growers have behind them.”
Event sponsor MGA Insurance’s managing director Paul George said the competition, in its sixth year, had become a must-see event for Easter Saturday.
The prizes include a trip to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival in the United States for the heaviest giant pumpkin of more than 300kg or, if this weight is not reached, $1000 for the heaviest pumpkin.
Seeds are available at Barnett’s Store, Cadell; Morgan Roadhouse; The Earthworks, Berri; Morgan Information Centre; Riverland Radio, Berri; Hahndorf Post Office; Beech Hardware, Berri; Mannum Information Centre; Murray Valley Standard, Murray Bridge; River News, Waikerie; Serenity Nursery, Murray Bridge; Waikerie Garden Centre; Sedan Post Office; Rustons Roses, Renmark; Walker Flat Store and others.
They can also be posted out.
- Details: cadell.org.au or phone the Morgan Visitor Information Office on 08 8540 2643.