April 25 was giant pumpkin-planting day at Parkston Elementary School. Photos by Rob Monson. Click to enlarge photos.

These Hutchinson County kids are not afraid to get their hands dirty.

Trays of pumpkin seeds planted and ready to sprout.

In less than a week, many of the seedlings had sprouted and were ready to go home with young gardeners.

Planting Seeds in Parkston

May 4, 2012

By Laura Johnson

Students from Parkston Elementary School are conducting a giant gardening experiment this spring and summer. Inspired by Kevin Marsh’s giant pumpkin-growing tips in our March/April 2012 issue, Parkston Principal Rob Monson requested 300 giant pumpkin seeds from Great South Dakota Pumpkin Weigh-Off organizer Cassandra Swanson of Canton. Monson and Parkston student council members recently started the seeds, placing them in dirt-filled plastic cups. As the seeds sprout, they are sent home with students eager to try their hands at giant pumpkin growing. 

Parkston’s planting committee must be a green-thumbed bunch. “We planted the seeds last Wednesday. They started popping up last weekend already! I would guess at this point I have sent home about half of the plants,” Monson said. Any fledgling gardeners who are successful can bring their big pumpkins back to school next fall for the Parkston Elementary Pumpkin Weigh-In.

The school also has a garden plot. Each grade picks a vegetable to grow. School gets out on May 11 in Parkston, so the kids don’t get to spend much time in the garden, but as Monson says, they at least get a chance to “get their hands dirty and know that vegetables don’t just come out of a can.”