How do you grow a giant pumpkin?

Question

I tried to grow pumpkins before, but after the plants grew so big, they died.I followed the directions but it didn't seem to matter. Where do you get the seeds?

Answer 1

It takes 125 to 130 days to grow a huge pumpkin, & it is started indoors in the spring. Start with the right variety. 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' has set many world records. 'Prizewinner', 'Big Max', or 'Big Moon' are also good.

Start early. "The more competitive growers start their seeds inside and have them ready for transplanting when the plant is in the three-leaf stage," says Howard Dill of Nova Scotia, breeder of 'Dill's Atlantic Giant,' a variety that's produced many world record holders. But don't start them too early, Dill warns, "because the plant may become spindly and have a weak root structure." Also, bear in mind that "transplanting can stunt pumpkin seedlings' growth." Even under the best conditions, it may take up to two weeks before a transplant finally root in and starts growing.
http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-16-164,00.html

Some have transplanted seedlings a month before the last frost, using a temporary cold frame or a temporary home-made greenhouse made of clear plastic. Others even add a heat source.
http://www.plantideas.com/pumpkin/secert.html
Use a dark plastic sheet on the ground to keep the soil warm & bugs out.

Whether you start with seeds or seedlings, give them plenty of room to spread out—25 feet from each other. They are vigorous growers and heavy feeders, and good soil is important. Enrich your planting bed with aged cow manure.

Of the 125 to 130 days it takes to grow a giant pumpkin, "the first 60 are very important," Dill says. "That's when the plant extends itself, flowers begin to appear and the fruit begins to form." To achieve record size pumpkins, you must select one or two of the first few on the vine (typically those with the best shape) and remove the others. Also, pinch off any that form later.

During the second 60 days, the fruit may grow 8 to 20 pounds per day. To fuel that growth, "organic gardeners can feed with manure tea or compost tea after the fruit is set," Dill says. Weekly feeding is essential for growing giant pumpkins. Early season fertilizing and watering is recommend to provide superior plant growth prior to pollination.

To become an eye-popping behemoth, your pumpkin has to grow at a good steady rate. So, do everything you can to protect its leaves from too much wind.They supply nutrients to the stem of the pumpkin.

Pumpkin leaves need lots of sun, but direct sunlight on the pumpkin itself will harden its outer skin, limiting its growth. You can construct a shade out of burlap or other lightweight material.

Temperature is important, too. Daytime highs around 80 to 90 degrees F are ideal for growing giant pumpkins.
Give the vines 25 feet in each direction,
Water it, regularly, daily even
Feed it: composted cow manure or compost tea, weekly.

Another site with tips on growing giant pumpkins:
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants.htm

Selecting the right seed increases your chances in growing a large pumpkin. Join a local Pumpkin grower association. They can help you get seeds (maybe even free ones from others who have grown huge pumpkins), you can get seeds from reputable seed companies, or you can order seeds from Howard Dill:
http://www.howarddill.com/

Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

http://www.beachyseeds.com/

http://search.ebay.com/atlantic-giant-pumpkin-seeds_W0QQfkrZ1QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/subcategory.aspx?category=1&subcategory=465&source=ov_giant_pumpk_seed&ct=hg&OVRAW=Giant%20pumpkin%20seeds&OVKEY=giant%20pumpkin%20seed&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=723073022&OVKWID=3677651522

It is my understanding that to get the biggest possible pumpkin you need to have only one on the vine. All the others need to be removed that way the one pumpkin gets all the energy.

Good Luck