The Burlington Science Center’s
2018 Giant Pumpkin Growing Contest!
Pumpkin Growing Contest Rules:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes will be awarded for the heaviest pumpkins.All pumpkins must be grown in the town of Burlington.
Participants must currently be in grades K-5 in the Burlington Public Schools (this will include students that will be in grade 6 as of September 2018).
All decisions are final and made by the Burlington Science Center staff.
All pumpkins will be weighed at the Burlington Post Office across from the town common. They will stamp your entry form to make it official.
Judging will take place around the first week of October.
The pumpkin cut-off “weigh date” will be Friday, September 28th.
All entries must be turned into the Science Center by Friday, October 5, 2018. Please include a photo of your pumpkin!
Plant your pumpkin where it will receive sun all day.
Your pumpkin variety is called “Big Max”
It takes about 120 days and can weigh over 100 pounds when full grown!
Pumpkins are a member of the squash and gourd family of vegetables.
The pumpkin grows on an extremely long vine that hugs close to the ground.
Vines can sometimes reach lengths of up to 50 feet. Pumpkins start out green, but turn a bright orange color when ripe.
Some pumpkins have been known to reach sizes of over 2,000 pounds!
Helpful Tips for growing success:
Plant your pumpkin where it will receive sun all day.
Your plant will need about 3 feet all around to grow full size.
For maximum pumpkin size, cut all but one pumpkin off your plant. This will force all of the plant’s effort into growing one giant pumpkin!
Once your pumpkin starts to grow, place a piece of wood under the pumpkin to help keep the insects and grubs from eating it.
Fertilize your plant with compost/fertilizer on a regular basis.
Water your pumpkin regularly.
Plant your pumpkin outside after Memorial Day.
Weigh your pumpkin toward the end of September at the Burlington Post Office, but don’t forget to have it weighed by September 28th and hand in the entry form below by October 5th!
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