Is Forbes' next Sydney Royal champion quietly growing beneath the green vines of this veggie patch?
From tiny Jack Be Littles to Atlantic Giants that require a team effort to lift, Forbes High School's agriculture students have been perfecting their pumpkin-growing prowess for years.
With a mix of science, dedication, and a whole lot of horse manure (literally), they’re aiming for even bigger wins at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
In 2024 they sent more than 200 pumpkins off to the Show, the Atlantic giants for competition and five different varieties for the Western District Exhibit.
"Last year we placed second in the school section for giant pumpkins and won the open under 50 kg giant pumpkin," teacher Rachel Eagles said.
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Working with Stuart Muller to source seed, they're fine tuning their growing process every year, starting with well-prepared soils.
They heavily fertilise with organic horse manure prior to planting, pinch the vines as the pumpkins form so only a couple grow to maturity, and fertilise regularly.
The chosen giant pumpkins are under drip irrigation and carefully placed on plastic pallets - with thanks to the community who provided those this year - and covered with shades once they get big.
When they're ready for harvest, they'll be carefully removed from the pumpkin patch with a sling, because they're already probably more than 60kg.
And while the size is critical, it's not all about the size.
"You want it to have a nice uniform shape, a nice colour," Mrs Eagles said - and picking it at just the right point is critical as well.
But pumpkins aren’t their only claim to fame - these students are also raising champion hens to lay award-worthy eggs.
The school is part of the school's egg-laying challenge for Sydney Royal, taking delivery of six Hyline pullets that they have been raising up and handling.
Come Show-time they'll select the best three to take to Sydney where they'll settle in and lay their eggs judging over a number of days.
If you're looking for eggs, Forbes High students do collect, clean and stamp the eggs from their regular layers. You can buy a dozen, which nearly always includes beautiful green and blue eggs as well as brown, through Sheldricks Fine Food.
Sydney Royal Easter Show is on from 11 to 22 April 2025 and tickets are now available online at www.eastershow.com.au
