Pumpkin – Dill’s Atlantic Giant

The world record for size, plant grows huge fruits that range in color from pinkish to yellow to orange. Most of the true giant pumpkins come from selections of this variety. 50 to 100 pounds are commonly grown. Fertile soil, irrigatiion, wide spacing of 70 or more square feet per plant, and limiting the plant to one fruit comonly results in 200-300 pound fruits or larger. When nurtured properly, it will grow pumpkins of enormous size. The current record is an Atlantic Giant of 1,689 pounds.
Sowing: Plant in full sun outdoors in spring after all danger of frost and soil is warm. Sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in moist well drained soil. Plant in an area protected from wind. Keep seedbed moderately moist during germination. If started indoors first, start 2-3 weeks before transplanting outside.
Germination: 3-7 days Spacing: Space hills 15-20 feet apart Days to maturity: 120 days Moisture: regular
Soil: Rich, well drained soil Light: Full sun
Information: Pumpkins vine and require a considerable amount of space. You can let them run through a landscape and corn rows. Harvest before light frost when the foliage has begun to dry out. when the skin is dry by cutting the stem with a knife leaving 3-4 inches of stem. Do not hold by the stem and protect from bruising. Let cure 1-2 weeks in a warm place. Then store in a cool dry place until ready to use.
C. maxima.