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

Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²

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

Lightweight and Breathable MATERIAL Good for protecting Plant: the plant frost cover material is 0.74 oz/sq non-woven polypropylene fabric, which is lightweight, breathable, and durable. The plant blanket frost protection allows sunlight reach the plants, perfect for protecting plants from the damage of freeze or frost. Wide Application In your Garden Work. The plant row cover not only can work as a barrier against frost, but also can be a great tool for germination and good for rapid seedling growth. By using the fabric plant covers over your plant, you can start the plant earlier in the spring and extending the growing season of your plants. How to Use the Plant Covers: you can cover the plant covers for freeze over your the plants loosely directly and then secure the plant frost blanket with soil, stones or staples. You can also support the floating row covers with a hoop, make enough room for plants to breath and grow. You could also cut the plant covers into different sizes for different purposes.

Buy at Amazon

Nothers RooTrimmer 50 Cell, 10pcs

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

50 cell plastic seedling deep trays, each size is 3.54" deep, big holes, side 1.89" x 1.89", hold larger volume of the soil which can be better for trees, longer rhizomas or similar tall growing plants. Fits for standard 10" 20" trays. 10pcs per pack trays, thicker and more durable, 1mm thick trays for long term use, sturdy to carry and transport. Indoor or greenhouse propagation or nursery is good.

Buy at Amazon