Did you know that the earth of pumpkins has some truly astounding specimens ?
elephantine pumpkins , to be exact , can consider anywhere from 150 pounds all the way up to an astonishing ton .
When these pumpkins reach maturity , their telling size and alone coming into court sure enough demand attending .
One might assume that cultivate such a monumental fruit would be an arduous undertaking . However , with the correct conditions and just a unmarried seed , it ’s entirely possible to grow a Cucurbita pepo that rivals the weight unit of a car .
Truly , the wonder of nature never terminate to vex !
To grow elephantine pumpkins , you must :
If you follow these pace , your pumpkin might not reach the jumbo level of the goliath that set the human beings disc in 2016 , weighing 2624.6 Egyptian pound , but you’re able to easily attain weight more than 100 pounds .
Keep reading for more item on how to get your autumn pumpkin as gravid as possible !
Choosing the Right Breed
It all comes down to selective breeding and pumpkin genetic science .
Over 30 year ago , pumpkin growerHoward Dillplayed with dissimilar hybrid and developed the pop “ Dills Atlantic Giant . ”
It is no surprisal that every world champion has used these seeds . There are other pumpkin seeds that you’re able to use if you prefer grow a dissimilar variety .
Pumpkin Big Moose
This yield can spring up from 50 pounds all the manner to 125 pound , which is telling enough if you want to attract big crowd .
It features a average red - Orange River coloring material with a intimately round form . It engage about 110 day for the pumpkins to read maturation .
Here is a pack of 15 non - GMO seeds . Click here to buy it on Amazon .
Pumpkin Dill’s Atlantic Giant
These seeds need no intromission because every pumpkin enthusiast know their potential to reach tremendous level .
Dill ’s Atlantic Giant need mountain of place to spring up and requires at least 125 twenty-four hour period for full maturation .
Click here to purchase these seeds , 10 per gang , on Amazon .
Pumpkin Polar Bear F1
These pumpkin vine have an odd color that resembles the slurred white fur on a polar bear .
Their longsighted vine grow average sized pumpkins of up to 30 to 65 pounds , which reckon telling . It takes around 100 days to reach full festering .
sink in here to buy them on Amazon .
Interested in pumpkin varieties ?
Make indisputable to gibe outour post about the 73 types of pumpkins- from the smallest to the orotund .
What Kind of Growth Zones is Ideal for Giant Pumpkins?
The idealistic hardiness zones for pumpkins are 3 through 9 . For maximum growth , check that to plant them in an area protected from teetotal , raging lead .
In the slip of 8 to 9 , farmer will need to provide additional shelter to the autumn pumpkin from freeze and frost in fall and outpouring .
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Weather Conditions for Giant Pumpkins
Pumpkins need plenty of sun to produce . seek to find the sunniest place in your garden .
Pumpkin vine kick the bucket and injure tight when exposed to freezing temperatures , allowing rot make bacteria and fungi to attack the fruit .
TheUniversity of Illinois Extensionnotes that leaving pumpkins to in freezing temperature will cause up to 90 percent yield loss .
The best time to found giant pumpkins is to wait at least two weeks after the last frost has passed , or when the soil temperature is at least 59 ° degree Fahrenheit .
Keep the pumpkins between 59 ° F to 100.4 ° F to harden and germinate them before transplant .
deliberate not to set them too betimes because it will expose them to cold that could inure or moulder the seedling .
TheUniversity of Minnesota Extensionrecommends transplanting pumpkins into the soil when territory temperatures pass at least 65 ° F .
If the temperature unexpectedly plummets during spring or autumn , shelter the autumn pumpkin with newspaper mulch or black plastic .
habituate run-in covers that can hold enough high temperature to hold off the frost until your pumpkins extend to harvest .
Best Soil for Giant Pumpkins
Giant pumpkins are always thirsty for lots of water but do n’t plant them in dumb or sloshed soil .
Make certain the grime is drained well . You do n’t need tractors or any variety of machinery to jab down very far , digging up by paw will do just fine .
Ready the soil in early springiness , once the ground is sufficiently warm .
feed the soil with at least four inches of rotting manure , cow manure . This is to make a territory with a pH value slimly near 6 or nearly 7 .
If you live in zones 8 to 9 and there is danger of frost , you may begin growing pumpkins two calendar week before transplanting .
Plant one seed per four - column inch peat pot filled with peat moss . verify the stack are amply water , do not permit them dry out .
Choosing Fertilizers – Which and How Much
When pumpkins are still growing their leaves , they will want access to fertiliser that is high in N .
Once they start growing their fruits , the fertiliser should have more phosphorous and atomic number 19 , both these nutrients encourage fruit ontogeny .
If you buy fertiliser from garden stores and do n’t develop your own , start out with a high number such as 10 - 5 - 5 , the switch to 5 - 10 - 5 , and so on .
These numbers typify the percentages of the three chief nutrient , nitrogen , phosphoric , and K .
The first number is for N , the second and third are for phosphorous and potassium . eminent number present a great denseness of the nutrient .
Pumpkin Flowers
Pumpkins have two flowers : male and female , these come along in July . The male flowers spring up first , follow by females .
To ensure your pumpkins develop up to big and plump , you have to select a big vine , so run for one before the autumn pumpkin .
Once you chance a impregnable and well - established vine with a female flower that is about to spread , cover it with plastic baggies to keep the insects out .
The female person can be well key out because they have a baby Cucurbita pepo at their groundwork .
Wait until the next morning to foot a fresh virile bloom , remove its outer petal , and rub the pollen - fill stamen around the nitty-gritty of the fresh blossom female peak .
Read more : What do pumpkin flowers look like ?
Isolating the Giant Pumpkin
Once a Cucurbita pepo has give the size of it of a hoops , it is time to keep apart it from other pumpkin and flower on the vine .
This is to see the industrial plant fertilize only the gargantuan pumpkin . If done right , the pumpkin will grow very tight and pass on 60 pounds in size of it at peak maturation . In the meanwhile , keep feeding and watering until then .
How Much Water is Needed?
Add Mulch
Giant pumpkin are always thirsty for water . Make indisputable to spread around 3 to 5 inches of mulch , for exercise , weed - destitute straw and shredded foliage , covering the pumpkin vine .
The mulch conserves water and minimizes the role of water system .
Do n’t utilize an excessive amount of mulch because they will suck up a fate of water and nutrients .
A dependable regulation of quarter round is to keep a weed - free zone around the pumpkin plant life .
Water Daily for Best Results
water the pumpkin plants every morning by using a garden hosepipe pointing at the base .
Avoid any spraying or splash to preclude water from extend to the giant pumpkin ’s vine and leaves . The body of water should be able-bodied to turn over at least 6 inches of the dirt .
persist in to water the autumn pumpkin plants every solar day as is necessary to keep the dirt moist .
water the soil right after feeding your pumpkin plant . This is important because it carries the fertilizer to your plant ’s base .
It is important to avoid overhead sprinkler because they will circumstantially splash to other areas of the plant such as the vine and leaves .
The bottom personal line of credit is that this is a pumpkin variety , so if you ’re attempt to get one to its entire size , be certain to read out detailed templet onhow to grow pumpkins successfully .
How Long Does it Take to Grow a Giant Pumpkin?
Because you ’re growing giant pumpkins , expect the ontogenesis time to be anywhere from 125 to 150 days .
This is to account for 60 days of plant increment and 80 day of fruit growth . The time for harvest at last depends on other consideration such as the climate , seed genetics , territory condition , temperature , pH value , and other factors .
Largest Pumpkin in US History
In 2018 , the largest pumpkin in history weighs in at an enormous 2,528 pounds .
It was produce by Steve Geddes of Boscaven who bag the $ 6000 prize money .
Where to buy Giant Pumpkin Seeds?
There are many online stores to opt from , most perceptibly Amazon , Burpee , and Harris Seeds .
Amazon has the highest number of come multifariousness to choose from while store like Harris Seeds be given to be more selective .
Check out thislinkfor an exhaustive leaning of 50 entrepot that provide pumpkin seeds .
Harris Seeds
Harris Seeds has over 3 unlike varieties for giant pumpkin grower , this include the Pumpkin Polar Bear , Pumpkin Big Moose , and Dill ’s Atlantic Seeds .
It requires you to set a minimum monastic order of $ 100 before shipping out , this spend a penny them slightly more restricted than Amazon .
Click here to research their website .
Burpee
Burpee is a great online store for horticulture enthusiasts , but at the prison term of this clause ’s penning , it only offers the Atlantic Giant for sales event .
The full thing is that you do n’t need to rank a minimal order for shipping .
Amazon
Amazon does n’t need an introduction because it is the large e - Department of Commerce retailer in the world .
It has the largest selection of giant pumpkin seeds , including Dill ’s Atlantic . The dependable part is the free shipping on select orders .
Click here to graze through Amazon .
More pumpkins to consider
Expand your pumpkin vine piece purview ! Explore these recommended assortment from our situation alongside your giant pumpkins through these articles :
How to acquire Dickinson Pumpkins
How to acquire Knucklehead Pumpkins
Growing Howden Pumpkins
