Hamish Atwell (7), of Milton, is dwarfed by his winning 70.5kg pumpkin at the second annual South Otago A&P Society Giant Pumpkin Competition in Balclutha on Sunday.
Hamish was one 24 entrants in this year's competition and a clear winner, beating the next heaviest entry by an impressive 16.5kg.
The red-haired, green-fingered young gardener revealed his secret formula for burgeoning growth during the weigh-in, telling organisers it was mainly down to regular pep talks.
"I used super-dirt from Finegand Silver Fern Farms and waste straw from the A&P cattle shed, but mainly it's because I've been giving the pumpkin a daily growth talk,'' he said.
Hamish won a garden centre voucher for his efforts, which he said he planned to spend on further plants to nurture.
