Giant pumpkin grower Norman Gansert poses next to his prize pumpkin. Gansert estimates this pumpkin weighs about 1,150 pounds. He hopes that he will place in the top 10 at Frerichs Farm in Warren on Saturday.

The Providence Journal / Sandor Bodo

A cool and wet growing season has been tough on the region’s pumpkin crop, but David Frerichs is expecting between 30 and 50 growers to enter tons of pumpkins in the 16th annual Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Championship Saturday. The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Frerichs Farm & Greenhouses (frerichsfarm.com), 43 Kinnicut Ave. in Warren.

At other Rhode Island farms, orchards and vineyards, corn mazes have opened, fall tours have begun and autumn harvests are under way.

World record holders Ron Wallace of Greene and Joe Jutras of North Scituate will join other growers unloading pumpkins weighing over 1,000 pounds apiece between 8 a.m. and noon at Frerichs Farm. At noon, a crane will lift a giant pumpkin high over a field and drop it. “When it hits, every pumpkin has a unique sound,” Frerichs said. The weigh-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. In case of rain, the championship will take place on Sunday, Oct. 11.

A representative from the Guinness Book of World Records (guinnessworldrecords.com) often attends the event, which is open to everyone, Frerichs said.

“When we started, 600 pounds was a big pumpkin,” he said. “If it doesn’t weigh at least 1,000 pounds today, no one even looks at it.”

Wallace was the first grower ever to break the 1,500-pound barrier when he set a world record in 2006 with a pumpkin weighing 1,502 pounds. In 2007, Jutras set a new world mark with a 1,689-pounder.

“Seeds from these growers come with pedigrees,” said Frerichs. Sometimes, the parents of giant pumpkins are smaller than their progeny, but the parents are known to produce winners. Growers who follow the game on the Web site bigpumpkins.com are currently keeping track of two such lines from two seed breeders, said Frerichs.

“They’re amazing,” Frerichs said. “Seeds at auction can sometimes sell for $700 apiece.”

Giant pumpkin breeders are generous with information and advice, and they often swap seeds to improve breeding, said Frerichs.

Wallace and Jutras have even shared their horticultural secrets on a YouTube video (youtube.com/

watch?v=HcagSv-V1zg).

Their pumpkins can gain between 30 and 45 pounds a day. “You can put a stick next to one of them in the morning, and in the evening you can see how much the pumpkin has grown,” Frerichs said.

“I’m not sure if we’re going to have another record-breaker,” Frerichs said. “No one is talking; they don’t want to jinx themselves. But there’s always a sleeper out there that no one knows about.”

More than 5,000 visitors attended last year’s pumpkin weigh-off, and Frerichs expects attendance to keep growing. The weigh-off is the highlight of Pumpkin Palooza, the farm’s celebration of autumn. It continues through October. Last weekend, families were painting pumpkins, riding in the farm’s pumpkin carriage, searching for needles made of foam in a haystack, and posing for photos in the farm’s many picture boards that were painted by Richard Kaiser. Among this weekend’s activities will be panning for farmers’ gold, kernels of corn, in a sandbox and a concert.

Saturday, admittance to the farm will be free, but parking will cost $5. Portuguese food and hot dogs will be sold, and proceeds will benefit food pantries in East Bay communities.

“It’s all about family and fun,” Frerichs said, “and we keep it affordable.”

There’s more going on on the farm this weekend. Here’s a sampling:

•The Young Family Farm ( www.youngfamilyfarm.com) has scheduled its Apple Fest for Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 260 East Main Rd., Little Compton. The event will include an apple pie contest, face painting, hayrides, and other activities. Food and crafts will be available, and two bands will play bluegrass music. Admittance buttons will cost $5 per person or $20 per family.

•Newport Vineyards & Winery (newportvineyards.com) has scheduled its “Viewing of The Vines” harvest open house Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., at the vineyard, 900 East Main Rd., Middletown. The open house will include vineyard tours and wine tasting, as well as locally grown food prepared by Aquidneck Island chefs. Abbey Rhode, a Beatles cover band, will perform. Tasting, touring and a souvenir wine glass will cost $10. Reservations are recommended. Call (401) 848-5161 or e-mail info@newportvineyards.com.

The Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education lists farm activities throughout the year on its Web site, nefarmways.com.

tmeade@projo.com