Halloween is an interesting day and becoming more and more American every year, I think!

I remember as a child never having pumpkins but using a big hollowed-out turnip to make a Halloween candle... aah, the good old days!

This year at the allotment we ran a pumpkin-growing competition to see who could grow the biggest one.

It was launched in memory of Bob Keevil, who passed away last year and was a very active member of the Petersfield Pumpkin Society.

The competition was completely open with plot holders growing whatever type of pumpkin they wanted to. I chose the Atlantic Giant variety and grew about eight plants, of which I gave five away.

I planted them in early April and kept them inside, out of any potential frost.

In late May they were planted out in a well-prepared bed with plenty of manure and other bits and bobs.

They were watered regularly –apart from when I was away. I asked my dear friend and long-suffering neighbour Coxy to water them for me while I was on holiday – a big mistake.

When I returned form my summer break with the kids, his pumpkins had grown a lot... but mine not so much!

Anyway, the day for the big weigh-in came and we had quite a few people come and get their potential prize pumpkins weighed.

Coxy needed a saw to cut the stem of his and it came in at a very respectable 21kg, with my biggest just under 10kg.

There was then a trickle of people, young and old, with some needing wheelbarrows to transport their pumpkins.

But none got close to Coxy’s in weight.

Then another allotment holder, Norman, arrived saying he couldn’t lift his and would we come and help him move it!

I was like the pied piper with people following me to Norman’s plot, and there it was, hiding in the beans – an absolute monster!

We cut the stem and rolled it in to the sling made from an Ikea blue bag.

The bag creaked under the strain as we lifted Norman’s pumpkin to weight it.

Coxy held his breath with fingers crossed – and Norman’s pumpkin weighed in at a huge 32kg.

Norman (pictured receiving his trophy from me) was delighted and only gloated a lot.

Anyway, it was loads of fun and we are already looking forward to next year’s competition.

Away from the pumpkin weigh-off, it’s the time to start planting out garlic – and it really couldn’t be easier. All you need is an open, sunny site with well-draining soil.

You can grow your own garlic from bulbs bought in a supermarket, but I wouldn’t recommend it as most supermarket garlic comes from Spain and won’t do very well in our climate.

It’s probably best to buy special commercially-grown varieties that are certified virus and disease free – I am growing Solent Wight this year.

Split the bulb into individual cloves and plant in the ground about one inch deep and about six to seven inches apart.

Each clove will produce a new bulb and will be ready to harvest in the early summer when the leaves start turning brown.

The sooner you plant them in the autumn, the bigger the bulbs you will get.

And don’t worry about cold weather – they are very hardy and will survive the harshest winters!

n For details about Adhurst Estate Allotment Association, visit the website at https://www.adhurst.co.uk/adhurst-estate-allotments-association