As Halloween approaches and colder weather makes us yearn for a hearty bowl of soup, a competition aims to find the most gigantic pumpkin in the area.
Organisers are hoping that all the amateur growers who have been busy on their allotments and ga
rdens will enter.
The 'Sumo Pumpkin' contest has been organised by food fanatic Amanda Fallbrown, from Hayling Island, who grows her own vegetables in her garden, although she admits her success with pumpkins has been less than fruitful.
Mrs Fallbrown, 44, said: 'There are some really good professional growers in the area, but it's the amateur growers we really want to hear from.
'They all have their own little secrets like using tea leaves.
'They give their pumpkins tender loving care every day and this is their chance to show off their efforts.'
Unlike pumpkin competitions in horticultural shows, it's only size that matters in this contest, which is being run with growers Barfoots, based in Pagham, West Sussex.
The current world record is 1,689 pounds – the weight of about eight fully-grown men.
Organisers don't reckon they can get anywhere close to that because of the poor weather this summer, but they are hopeful some gigantic squashes will turn up.
To enter people must send in a picture of their pumpkin with themselves alongside it.
The top 50 will be invited to a weigh-in at Sainsbury's, Hedge End, on Sunday at noon.
The winner gets to have their pumpkin on display in the supermarket with a picture of themselves alongside it.
n Anyone who wishes to the enter the competition should e-mail a picture of themselves and their pumpkin, together with an indication of weight, to amanda@orchis-marketing.co.uk
The full article contains 308 words and appears in NS-Fareham & Gosport newspaper.
