First, there were extreme sports. Now, there are extreme pumpkins.

Gardeners who have a competitive streak are invited to show off their prized pumpkins this fall at the Rapid City Pumpkin Fest, a new event in which extreme pumpkins are the stars of the show.

The family-oriented festival promises giant pumpkins, pumpkin carving and painting, a pumpkin catapult competition, a pumpkin pie contest and more. But anyone who wants to grow an extreme pumpkin must start now to be ready for the Pumpkin Fest, set for Oct. 2-3 in downtown Rapid City.

Black Hills Giant Pumpkins can help. The organization was founded by Lisa Evans and Matt Winey, who have grown these extreme pumpkins in the Black Hills and want to teach other gardeners their secrets.

Evans, a pumpkin grower for six years, has grown pumpkins up to 705 pounds. Winey, who has been growing pumpkins in the Black Hills for less than three years, grew an extreme pumpkin that was estimated at 917 pounds. The two said they will answer questions or mentor gardeners who want to grow giant pumpkins in the Black Hills, and they provide many tips for growers on their Web site, www.blackhillsgiantpumpkins.com. But they also offered some basic advice for anyone who wants to take on the challenge of giant pumpkins.

Good seed, favorable weather, good soil and a lot of watchful care are the keys to growing an extreme pumpkin, Evans and Winey agree.

The best seed, specifically bred for growing giant pumpkins, is an Atlantic Giant pumpkin seed, Evans and Winey said. Although gardeners can request seeds through www.bigpumpkins.com, Evans and Winey have Atlantic Giant seeds they will provide local growers free of charge. Seeds and handouts about growing giant pumpkins are available at the Destination Rapid City office, or contact Evans and Winey through www.blackhillsgiantpumpkins.com. Evans and Winey said they also will provide growers with some germinated plants if they are getting a late start this growing season.

"We have thousands of seeds that all have potential for 1,000 pounders or more," Winey said, adding that pumpkins in the 300-pound range are typical for a first-time grower. You can get the seeds in the ground by the end of May and still get a 300- to 400-pound pumpkin, he said.

Soil and unpredictable Black Hills weather will provide challenges for growers, Winey said. Careful nurturing is essential when growing giant pumpkins.

"It might take two or three years to (develop) good soil. Temperature extremes here can be hard on pumpkins," Winey said.

The pumpkins not only need good soil, but enough of it. Winey recommends a 20-foot-by-20-foot plot of soil in full sun so the plant has room to grow as it gets bigger. July and August are the prime growing times for pumpkins, and giant pumpkins grow at an amazing rate.

"Some pumpkins have grown 60 pounds a day during the peak fruit growth period," Winey said. "It's a crazy thing. You never know what's going to happen. That's what makes it cool."

To prepare the soil, loosen it about 1 to 2 feet down and amend it. Evans recommends enriching it with composted manure, gypsum, peat moss and bone meal.

Then, prepare the seed itself. "Don't just put the seed in the ground. The seed coat is very thick. We file the edges of the seed, avoiding the tip, to make it easier for the plant to come out," Evans said.

After filing the seed, soak it in 85-degree water for four to six hours, then put the seed in warmed soil in about a 20-ounce cup, and put the cup some place where it will stay warm, such as in a cooler with hot water bottles. Change the water every eight hours, Evans said.

"Keep this going, and the seed should germinate in three to five days," Evans said. "When the seed has lost its shell and the seeds leaves are up, you can transplant it."

She suggests transplanting the seed into an ice cream bucket using the lid as the bottom. Cut the actual bottom of the bucket out and use that as the top, fill it with soil and put the plant in. Then, when the plant is ready to go in the ground, simply remove the lid and slide the dirt and plant into the prepared planting spot.

"You're less likely to disturb the roots, and the roots grow fast," Evans said. It is also important to note that the vine will grow in the direction opposite of the first true leaf, so that the plant grows in the desired direction.

"Keep the soil moisture content consistent, not too dry or too wet. If it's too wet, you'll get rot in the roots," Winey said. A good way to judge the soil moisture is to stick your finger into the soil, rather than just by the surface appearance.

After it's in the ground, the fledgling plant demands nurturing.

The soil should be kept at a temperature of about 85 degrees, so Evans shelters her plant with a hoop house built from PVC pipe and 6 millimeter plastic, using halogen lights to keep the soil and plant warm on nights below 40 degrees.

"And then, as the plant starts to grow, bury the vines to anchor the plant to the ground," Evans said. "You can push dirt against and over the vines. It helps anchor the vines against wind, and also promotes tap roots that help anchor (the plant)."

As the main and secondary vines grow, keep the main vine tip shaded by sheltering it with something such as a clothes basket to keep it from getting too much sun on 80-degree or hotter days, Winey said.

Also, giant pumpkins have thick, soft stems and, unlike other pumpkins, should not be turned as they grow to keep the pumpkins round. Turning the giant pumpkins could break the stems, Evans said. Once you have a pumpkin set on the plant, keep the fruit shaded and dry as it grows, Evans and Winey said.

The first frost will end your growing season, Winey said. A growth chart at www.bigpumpkins.com can tell you how to measure and estimate the weight of your pumpkin.

There's a lot to know about growing giant pumpkins, Evans and Winey said. But above all, just enjoy the process and whatever pumpkins you grow.

"Keep it simple, make it fun," Evans said. "You can't take it too seriously. … We want you to do the best you can with (the conditions) you have."

The fun of watching pumpkins grow to extreme sizes won't be the only thrill for growers. Their pumpkins can compete for the Giant Pooh-Bah Pumpkin Award in the Pumpkin Fest, an event sponsored by Destination Rapid City. The grower of the biggest pumpkin will win a $1 per pound cash award. For information about entering the contest, call Destination Rapid City at 716-7979 or go to www.destinationrapidcity.com.

For more information about growing extreme pumpkins, go to www.blackhillsgiantpumpkins.com.

Contact Tanya Manus at tanya.manus@rapidcityjournal.com