Dead possums, rabbits and copious quantities of compost were the secrets of gardeners who entered the Blueskin A&P Society's inaugural pumpkin-growing contest.
''We decided pumpkins would be fun,'' said society member Sally Brown, adding that the competition got under way ''very late'', as seed was not sown until November.
''Everyone on the committee had to grow one and it got really competitive,'' she said.
Apart from one wit who entered a miniature type, all entries were of a variety called Show Winner, which supplier Kings Seeds said could produce pumpkins of up to 200kg.
In the event, the winner fell short of that, probably because of the shorter growing time.
At the society's show earlier this month George Terry's effort weighed in at 79.1kg, with several other pumpkins in the 67kg to 73kg range.
The entries are on show at Blueskin Nurseries until mid-May.
The A&P society plans to run the competition again next year, although Ms Brown says they will probably go for a different variety, Atlantic Giant which is a good eating pumpkin, unlike Show Winner, which has bland, watery flesh.
Atlantic Giant gourds can grow to about 190kg.
Those interested in entering next season's pumpkin-growing contest need not live in the Waitati area - ''anyone can enter,'' Ms Brown said - and can register by emailing blueskinonshow@gmail.com.
For the record, the world's largest pumpkin was a 950kg monster grown last year by a Swiss gardener.
