Many winter Squash / Pumpkins like to sprawl out and need plenty of space. Vining Squash / Pumpkins require a larger area to run, whilst semi-vining and bush varieties of winter squash / courgette can be well contained.

Like any vegetable, different varieties have been selected for different purposes. With pumpkins, the giant types have purely been selected for size, not flavour. So whilst these make great Halloween pumpkins they don’t always make a good pie. In part, this is due to the forcing in the cultivation Crop rotation is an important part of soil health, and it can help to add new nutrients and provide a beneficial environment for the pumpkin. Companion planting can also help with nutrient absorption, as many plants can help to add nitrogen to the soil. To encourage germination, keep the seeds somewhere warm and light (25-30°C is ideal). Your seedlings should start to appear within 3-7 days.Pumpkin Dills Atlantic Giant. The ultimate variety for giant pumpkin contests holding the world record at 1689lb. It requires plenty of space and a warm long summer to reach its full potential, but with care produces exceptional sized pumpkins. Realistically with average care and a good summer, fruit of 200-300 lbs are achievable in the UK. (They are also of excellent texture and flavour). Mature in around 125 days from germination. Cultivation Advice Pumpkin Dills Atlantic Giant

The most popular varieties in the UK are Atlantic Giant, and Mammoth, which are each genetically huge. When purchasing these seeds, you should expect them to be larger than normal pumpkin seeds. Calculate and record your final estimated weight. If your pumpkin reaches 45kg, you’re doing really well. If you manage to grow anything bigger than 136kg, you’re on to something! Why Can't We Grow Fruit the Size of Cars?". National Geographic Culture. February 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021 . Retrieved April 12, 2021. Wait until more than one flower has been pollinated and then see which pumpkin gets off to the best start, before removing the rest. Your pumpkin will grow far bigger if you only have one fruit on the plant! Miller, Tracy. "Record-breaking pumpkin thought to be world's largest weighs in at 1,725 pounds". NY Daily News.Transplant your seedlings into larger pots of compost when their roots start to come through. This will give them more space to grow. Different composts can also give your pumpkins added nutrients. Consider using well-rotted horse manure for fast soil warming, or enhanced green compost with food waste for higher nutrient content. Do not overwater! Pumpkins hate being cold and wet. The number one error for beginners is overwatering seeds before they germinate, which causes them to rot. Moisten the compost and don’t water it again until the surface has dried off.

Another good prospect for the giant pumpkin competition. Often produces fruits over 50 kg! How to Grow Giant Pumpkins Growing InformationSow late March to May in a propagator on a windowsill in a greenhouse/house at approximately 20-25°C (68-78°F) using a quality compost. Cover seeds with 19mm (¾") compost (Germination 5-8 days). Grow on, planting out when frost risk has passed, 120cm (4') between plants each way. Alternatively sow outside May/June, 2 seeds per station. Thin to strongest seedling. Restrict fruits to 3-4 per plant. To grow really big pumpkins restrict to one fruit and feed regularly with potassium fertiliser. Grows best in rich soil. Water and feed regularly. Sowing to Cropping: 18-22 weeks. Sowing Information Marturana, Amy (October 5, 2012). "Ron Wallace Grows The Largest Pumpkin Breaking World Record (VIDEO)". Huff Post.Dig a hole about 2 feet square and deep, fill with good compost or mix well rotted manure into the soil. Add a few handfuls of general purpose fertiliser like fish, blood and bone or Growmore into the mix as well. The soil should end up slightly mounded. Gerald Short kindly sent me this piece on growing really giant pumpkins. In 2019 he grew a 1495lb pumpkin which came 2nd in the UK and he tells me that in 2020 he grew the UK record for largest pumpkin on an allotment, if such a record exists, 1558lbs! The Diggers Club chief executive Tim Sansom said growing giant vegetables was “a scientific challenge”. The soil must be well prepared and rich with nutrients, moisture kept up but not overdone, and the climate warm enough to encourage growth but not so warm as to split fruit and send things to seed.