Let's grow together and learn together this growing season!
Richmond County Cooperative Extension is hosting a friendly growing competition for the growing season of 2024. Crops include watermelon, sunflower and pumpkin. Participants can enter one or all categories. Seeds will be free to participants and available for pick up at the Richmond County Extension Office during the month of April. This is a free program, please Register by April 30, 2024.
All entries must be grown from seed provided by Richmond County Cooperative Extension. Entries must be grown in Richmond County by the registered individual. One entry per individual per category. Watermelon submissions will be submitted on July 26, 2024. Sunflower submissions will be submitted August 2, 2024. Pumpkins submissions will be Submitted October 4, 2024. All entries excluding "Weirdest" must be submitted in person. Registration is not required for "Weirdest" and can be submitted digitally. All ages and experiences welcome. See categories below.
Entry Categories:
Watermelon- Heaviest (weigh in: July 26, 2024)
Watermelon- Sweetest (measured: July 26, 2024)
Sunflower- Largest Diameter (measured: August 2, 2024)
Pumpkin- Heaviest (weigh in: October 4, 2024)
Other- "Weirdest" (digital submission due by September 1, 2024)
Weird vegetables are typically discarded in our supply chain; however, they are often still edible. The "Weirdest" category is added to help us not take our gardens so seriously. Mother Nature can do some funky stuff. Share pictures of your 'weird' produce this season. *** Not limited to plants from seeds provided by Richmond Cooperative Extension for the Contest*** "Weirdest" can be submitted through email to Kinsey Watkins at kinsey_watkins@ncsu.edu. Please take note of picture quality and include the name of grower, date taken, and contact information in submission.
If you would like to participate but do not have much experience gardening or would like a refresher, a Vegetable Gardening 101 class will be held April 25, 2024 from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Register here: https://VegGardening101.eventbrite.com
Follow us on Facebook at 'North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Richmond County' for growing information and updates about the programs.
For questions contact Kinsey Watkins at (910) 334-4596 or kinsey_watkins@ncsu.edu
