Pumpkin Grower Ben Fillmore
logs the progress of his pumpkins each day,
and in fact must cull the little ones early
on to force the collective nutrients of the
plant into one potential monster. He keeps
a journal, as all enthusiasts do, keeping
track of all the tangible and intangible data
surrounding the growth history of each
pumpkin.
As the plants grow, the vines take up
more and more space. Some leaves are literally the size of a card table, and each day
Ben continues to bury exposed vines so
that the plant will maximize the delivery of
food to the pumpkin. It is part science and
part art. The flowers are hand-pollinated
and must then be protected from bees
so that you can be sure of the pumpkin
parentage.
Unlike some high-tech growers, Ben
prefers to spray the liquid fertilizer by hand
onto the leaves of each plant, and the vibrant color and robust quality of the plants
are the testament to his attention. It takes
a seasoned grower to determine when and
how much to fertilize. Too much fertilizer
can cause the pumpkins to grow too fast,
and too little will result in a less-than-prizewinning specimen.
As the days begin to shorten and first nip of fall can be felt
in the air, the pumpkins’ growth begins to slow, and the fear of
splitting becomes very real. No one knows exactly why a pumpkin splits, but once it does, the only thing it is good for is the
compost pile.
What’s more than a load of compost is the prize money available to the giant pumpkin growers. Here in Ukiah entrants can
expect to win $1.00 per pound for the first prize pumpkin. In
other competitions around the country, up to $5.00 per pound is
awarded.
But Ben will be the first to tell you that the prize money is not
the incentive. In fact the money he won last year would not even
cover his expenses. No,
it’s simply the glory, the
fun and the knowledge
gained each year that
keeps Ben coming back
for more.
On the day of the
Weigh-Off, neighbors
come by with a tractor
and the pumpkin is
lifted into Ben’s truck
and carried into town
for the Big Moment.
There’s always a crowd
CAROLE BRODSK Y
awaiting the results, and the winners are left on display for the
duration of the Pumpkinfest, garnering the attention of approximately 10,000 visitors.
Like most growers, Ben uses a standard formula to estimate the
weight of his pumpkins, but he’s been surprised every year. Last
year his pumpkin ended up being 150 pounds heavier than his
estimate. But, as Ben said, “this is farming, and you never know
what’s going to happen.”
What happens to the pumpkins after the event? Sometimes
Ben has a neighbor who uses them for animal feed. They are not
pumpkin pie quality, but the Fillmores have carved them and set
them in front of their yard for Halloween. One thing is certain: if
Ben’s pumpkin ends up a
winner, he’ll save the seed
for next year’s planting.
Or will there be a
next year? He’s threatened he “might get tired
and quit,” but that was
three years ago. Ben will
continue to grow the
giant pumpkins as long
as there are records to
break. That is, unless his
family forces him to take
a vacation.
Ukiah’s Annual Country Pumpkinfest
The Country Pumpkinfest blends a harvest and music festival into the Halloween holiday, this annual two-day event is held each fall in the month of
October. This year’s Pumpkinfest is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October
13-14. Along with a variety of delicious foods, the streets of Downtown Ukiah
are filled with craft vendors, fine arts exhibits, and “Scarecrow City”. Enjoy
live music, a country fiddle contest and the ever-popular children’s carnival
including many games and amusements. Try your luck at a pie-eating contest or
show off your green thumb by entering the great pumpkin weigh-off! For more
information regarding Pumpkinfest call the City of Ukiah at 463-6712.
