The best in potato growing gathered for the annual Spud in the Bucket competition.

Growing methods were unveiled when Rotary Matamata held its weigh in for the annual Spud in the Bucket competition.

The competition is a fundraiser for the service group, with funds going towards health and youth initiatives in the community.

The competition is a fundraiser for the service group, with funds going towards health and youth initiatives in the community.

Potatoes were planted after Labour weekend, and then it was up to the individual to find ways to make them flourish.

Rotarian Owen Westlake (right) and Allan Lambert hold up Allan's 5kg spud crop, which earned him the top crop of the year. 

Allan Lambert, director of Matamata's Sincerity Drycleaners, was named king of the crop at the weigh in last week.

His crop weighed in at exactly 5kg and had the bucket bursting at the seams.

He uses the competition as friendly in-house rivalry among his Sincerity team.

He attributed his growing success with sheep manure.

Spud in the Bucket project manager Mike Farrell said he was always excited on weigh in day to see what methods people used to grow their crop.

He said it was wonderful to see people getting behind the fundraiser, as well as businesses using it as a team building opportunity.

Spud in the Bucket is in its 11th year.

Results:

  • Smallest crop: David Wheadon (400g)
  • Largest crop Allan Lambert (5kg), 2nd Owen Westlake (4.75kg) and Peter Thissen (4.60kg)
  • Juniors: First equal Eric Schweizer and Jack Ryan (1.9kg), 2nd Freddie Henderson 1.2kg.
This story first appeared in the Matamata Chronicle