Pumpkins - Knowledgebase Question

Name: James Pollack
Elyria, OH
Avatar for jp524sp
Question by jp524sp
January 18, 1998
I would like to know how to grow gigantic pumpkins, that will not rot or get soft. Which kind of seeds do I need for a great harvest.


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Answer from NGA
January 18, 1998
To get seeds for giant pumpkins contact Howard Dill, 400 College Rd, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada BON2TO. Seeds from hybrid plants cannot be relied on for growing plants similiar to the original. After you have the right seeds, if the weather cooperates, you stand a good chance of growing a giant pumpkin. There are a few tricks of the trade: After the vines are established and you've got a few smallish pumpkins, cut back all the vines except one. Remove all but the one pumpkin that you want to growto gigantic proportions so the plant will put all of its energy into ripening just that one fruit. Then water, water, water. Pumpkins are heavy feeders, so plant your potential prize-winners in rich organic soil amended with LOTS of aged manure. As the pumpkin grows, put a piece of plywood under it so it won't rot where it touches the earth. Just to hedge your bet, plant several pumpkin seeds a few yards apart and grow one pumpkin per plant. From this collection, you can choose the biggest. If you want to pursue this in earnest, there's a book on the subject - "How to Grow World-Class Giant Pumpkins", by Don Langevin (Annedawn Publishing, PO Box 247, Norton, MA 02766; ISBN# 0-9632793-4-3). Good luck!

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