Transfer the seed to a 4" peat pot filled with potting soil. Begin by soaking the seeds in a warm, wet paper towel for an hour. Therefore, I start all my seeds indoors during the last week in April. Pumpkins will NOT survive even a light frost. You want to set your seedlings into the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Try to choose an area where water drains well. Try to remove any obstacles that may prevent this.
Make sure the soil within this area is well tilled. I suggest preparing at least 500 sq feet of area per pumpkin plant. By this time, you will want to have your garden prepared for seeding. The growing season usually begins around the last week in April. Even after the ground freezes, you can add organic materials to the garden. Till the garden in before the frost sets in, so the organics have the opportunity to decompose into nutrient-rich pumpkin food. The fall is a great time to add compost, manure, leaves, and other organic materials to the patch. During the off-season months of Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr, many growers spend their time collecting seeds, reading informative material, and preparing their patches. There are many things that can be done all months of the year that will ensure success in the years to come. It is a must for the beginner.ĭepending on the degree of involvement, giant pumpkin growing is a yearlong process. Soil tests will tell you this information and are highly recommended on a yearly basis. Soils with a pH of 6.8 and an organic matter content of 10% are desirable. Finally, a good soil consists of well-drained sandy loam. A relative humidity of 60% (+/- 20%) is optimal as well. The ideal temperature for a pumpkin is 85 degrees during the day, with no more than a 20-degree drop in nighttime temps. Climates in these areas have sunny warm summers, with an appreciable amount of rain from May through September. The ideal climate for growing pumpkins lies 4-5 degrees north and south of the 45th parallel. Simply stated, good weather means you don't get a frost in July. You don't have to pay anything more than postage to get your hands on some good seed. Contact giant pumpkin growers and ask them for seed. The only way you are going to grow a fruit larger than 300 lbs is with the Dill's Atlantic Giant variety. These are good seed, good weather, and good soil. There are three aspects of growing that one needs to have in order to produce consistently large fruit. This article provides the most basic guidelines for growing big pumpkins. But we all have to start somewhere, which is the point of this writing. Usually after one year though, many become hooked, and even obsessed with growing the big one. Beginners usually just want to know the basics. The neat thing about growing is that its up to the grower as to how complicated it becomes. Growing a giant pumpkin can be very easy. Article by Joe Ailts - 2001 No publisher information available
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