Pumpkins - Giant

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 0, No rotation needed


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ATLANTIC GIANT

Try growing your own monster pumpkins! Pumpkin 'Dill's Atlantic Giant holds the Canadian and American records for size, with fruits weighing in at over 800 kg (1763lb). This spectacular variety will certainly impress the neighbours, but be sure to allow plenty of space for its long trailing stems.
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MAMMOTH

An orange-skinned pumpkin with yellow flesh, which gardeners have grown to a weight of over 50kg. Recommended for exhibition. This variety has been trialled, tested and recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany.
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HUNDREDWEIGHT

Enormous exhibition-worthy vegetables excellent for entering into competitions. The orange/yellow-skinned pumpkins are high in flavour too - perfect for pies and soups.
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CINDERELLA

This centuries-old French heirloom pumpkin looks just like the coach in the fairy tale Cinderella. The glowing orange color contrasts magically with the very pronounced lobes and flattened top. Tasty, orange flesh transforms pies and savory dishes. Each plant sends out 10 foot vines with up to 6 fruit as large as 15 inches across.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Pumpkins require a well drained, humus rich soil in full sun, with shelter from winds.

Indoor Sowing

Sow pumpkin seed indoors from April to May for transplanting later on. Sow pumpkins seeds on their sides in small 7.5cm (3”) pots of seed compost at a depth of about 2.5cm (1”). Place in a propagator or seal pots inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) until germination which takes 5-7 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination. Once germinated, grow pumpkins on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and pumpkin plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting pumpkins outdoors.

Outdoor Sowing

Alternatively direct sow pumpkins outdoors from late May to June at a depth of 2.5cm (1”) and a distance of 2m (6 1/2’) - 3m (10’) apart depending on the variety. Sow 2 seeds per hole and thin out the weakest seedling per station after germination.

Thinning

Thin plants during transplantation to final growing position.

Transplanting

Transplant pumpkins outdoors in warm, well drained, humus rich soil in full sun, with shelter from winds. Choose a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.

Care

Feed and water pumpkins regularly. When growing pumpkins, a thick mulch of organic matter spread around the plants will help to conserve moisture at the roots. Hoe between plants regularly to prevent weeds from establishing. Pumpkins will begin to produce long stems which can be trained in a circle around the plant to prevent them spreading too far.

Harvest

Leave pumpkins on the plant for as long as possible until the skin has hardened and the fruits start to crack near to the stem. Harvest pumpkins before the first frosts by cutting each fruit from the stem leaving several inches of the stem attached.