Gardeners around the globe have been trying to amaze their friends, family and neighbors by growing unbelievably large pumpkins for more than 150 years.

But it was just this year that Ron Wallace of Rhode Island, set a new record at the New England Giant Pumpkin weigh off with a pumpkin that tipped the scales at over one ton-2009 pounds.

That’s sets an unbelievably high bar for fellow growers aiming for next year’s record.

It wasn’t that long ago when giant pumpkins weighed in at less than 500 pounds. Advances in the art and science of giant pumpkin growing took a huge leap in 1983. That’s when a grower in Nova Scotia named Howard Dill grew a 466-pound pumpkin. Since then growers have been planting ‘Dill’s Atlantic Giant’ seeds to grow bigger and bigger pumpkins.

Would you like to try to set your own Cucurbita maxima record? Here’s what you’ll need:

Space. You’ll need a 10-foot by 10-foot growing area if you want to grow a 400-pounder or a 20-by-20 foot patch for anything bigger.

Seed. Not every pumpkin seed will grow into a giant. Growers spend much of their off season carefully selecting seeds with pedigrees from past winners.

Time. Giant pumpkin growers plant their selections in April, move plants to hoop houses in May and hand-pollinate flowers in late June.

Patience. Each grower spends long days during the summer watering, fertilizing, worrying about the weather, watching for disease problems, and fending off all kinds of pests from insects to elk. 

A Truck and Friends. It takes some planning and manpower to move a giant pumpkin from the patch to the contest.

Specialized Knowledge. Giant pumpkins don’t grow to over 1000 pounds on their own. The best methods for learning how to grow a giant are reading books, looking at web sites and getting to know other growers. Even though giant pumpkin growers are competitors, most are willing to share their tips, tricks and even their seeds.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Coco Bliss 650gm Bricks (5-Pack) - Organic Coco Coir

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Pre-Rinsed & Pre-Screened Coco Coir - Every block of our coconut fiber substrate has been screened multiple times through an extremely small filter to get rid of any traces of fiber, sand, and rocks. This is what sets our coco coir apart, giving you pure and clean coco coir for plants, unlike others who don’t filter their coco coir for impurities.

Buy at Amazon

Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

ORGANIC COCONUT COIR: Made from recycled coconut husks, coir is a light, sustainable growing medium that holds the perfect amount of moisture for starting seeds. 100% biodegradable soil alternative. Environmentally friendly and a renewable alternative to peat moss. OMRI listed and certified organic. IDEAL GROWING MIX: Improve seed germination and root growth with this premium coconut fiber mix, which improves nutrients absorption! Great for flower, vegetable, herb, and more plant types. OMRI listed. Naturally disease and pathogen resistant, it will help you grow healthy live plants. EASY TO STORE & EXPAND: Each compact coconut coir brick expands into 8 quarts of seed starting mix, providing 16 quarts total. Just add water to expand! Dehydrated bricks save space until planting. Once expanded, coconut coir provides a quality growing medium for all types of plants—indoor plants, house plants, outdoor plants, and more! NATURALLY CONSERVES WATER: Renewable coco coir has excellent moisture retention and better air circulation than peat. This eco-friendly, premium seeds starting mix combines well with other potting soil and compost for container plants & raised beds. 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes, and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, we aim to make it right!

Buy at Amazon