The weather is improving and many pumpkin plantlets that were adopted during the May 19 Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant Giveaway are enjoying this week’s sunshine. However, some may have not weathered the recent rains and look a bit puny. Do not despair, volunteer pumpkin growers, there is a supply of healthy plantlets available at Pinkham’s Plantation in Damariscotta.

For all who were not able to come to the May 19 Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant Giveaway and would like to join in on the fun of growing one of these monster pumpkins, you are not too late. Pumpkin volunteers planted an additional 100 plants after the May 19 Giveaway, waiting to be adopted.

Come by Pinkham's Plantation, 431 Biscay Road in Damariscotta, to get your free Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant and five gallons of free compost (please bring your own bucket). There are only about 100 plantlets remaining, so don’t wait too long to adopt yours.

To help you grow a monster pumpkin, visit www.damariscottapumpkinfest.com or follow us on Facebook, where growing tips will be posted throughout the summer.

We also ask that you upload photos of your pumpkins as they grow and share your growing experience with other volunteer pumpkin growers onto Facebook. Sharing your photos and experience on Facebook is also an excellent way to increase the number of pledges you receive if you are sponsoring a pumpkin for an area nonprofit association.

A special thank you to all the volunteers who planted the 500-plus seeds, giving them a healthy start, and to all pumpkin growers for your work to ensure Pumpkinfest will have the giant pumpkins needed for the fall festival. If you haven’t picked up your seedling, or need to replace one, be sure to stop into Pinkham’s Plantation before they’re all gone. The weather’s great for planting.

Pumpkinfest & Regatta is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote education to citizens of all ages regarding the specific agricultural science required to grow giant pumpkins, and to provide local nonprofits with opportunities for dissemination of information on their activities and fundraising.

For more information, visit www.damariscottapumpkinfest.com or follow us at www.facebook.com/damariscottapumpkinfest.com or www.twitter.com/squashbuckler.

Pumpkinfest is pleased to again have Down East magazine as the official magazine sponsor for the festival.