As sponsors of the UK’s giant pumpkin growing competition each autumn at the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth's annual event in Southampton, Thompson & Morgan is launching National Pumpkin Sowing Day on April 12th. In response to the many queries that the horticultural mail order giant receives around the time of the giant pumpkin weigh-in, the company has decided to set a date for those wanting to try their hand at growing a record-breaker or for those simply wanting to grow a modest pumpkin for carving at Halloween.
Paul Hansord, T&M’s Commercial Director, himself a keen pumpkin grower, said: “We get so many enquiries at the giant pumpkin weigh-in and around Halloween when people are seeing pumpkins in the shops, asking how to grow them at home. So we’ve decided to set April 12th as National Pumpkin Sowing Day 2017. If people can buy their seeds and get ready to sow them on this date, we’ll support them with growing tips and hope that someone out there might grow a pumpkin to rival last year’s winner”.
The heaviest pumpkin at last year’s event weighed in at 2,252.3lb and was grown by Ian and Stuart Paton who have broken the UK record an incredible 7 times. The majority of entries to the 2016 official weigh-in at the Southampton pumpkin event were grown from seeds that came from giant pumpkins grown by the Patons. Seeds from the Paton twins’ 2016 record-breaking giant pumpkin are available from T&M – 2 seeds of ‘Paton Twins Giant’ retail at £9.99.
RHS Hyde Hall’s Matt Oliver won the award in 2016 for the largest outdoor-grown pumpkin with a seed purchased for £1,250 by Thompson & Morgan. His pumpkin weighed in at an astounding 1,333.8lb (95 stone or 605kg) and the seeds from this aptly named ‘Matt’s Monster’ can be purchased from Thompson & Morgan at a cost of £7.99 for 3 seeds.
“The seeds from ‘Matt’s Monster’ and ‘Paton Twins Giant’ might seem a little expensive, but they come with a fantastic pedigree”, commented Paul Hansord. “Each seed is packed with giant pumpkin potential”.
Other pumpkin seeds are available from T&M for those who want to grow a modest-sized pumpkin, such as ‘Jack Of All Trades’, for carving at Halloween or for those who simply have a penchant for pumpkin pie or a hearty pumpkin soup.
T&M will be supporting pumpkin growers after they have sown their seeds with information on how to grow giant pumpkins and on growing regular pumpkins for Halloween on its website, as well as with timely posts on social media.
Useful links:
www.thompson-morgan.com/how-to-grow-pumpkins
www.thompson-morgan.com/giantpumpkins
Based in Ipswich, Suffolk since 1855, Thompson & Morgan is the UK’s most successful horticultural mail order company. It is the only mail order seed and plant specialist to develop its own plant lines in the UK. Due to the continued success of its breeding programme, the company has introduced more species and varieties to the British gardening public than any other mail order company in the industry. Its product range includes an award-winning choice of seeds, young plants, bulbs, seed potatoes, onion and garlic sets, soft fruit and fruit trees, as well as an extensive range of gardening equipment and supplies. See the full range at www.thompson-morgan.com
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