How to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin – Whether you are going out to a pumpkin patch, or to a roadside stand, see our pumpkin picking tips on selecting the absolutely perfect pumpkin for your front yard. But, don’t get just one. Rather, get several. Carve and decorate some of them. And, leave others uncarved. After Halloween, you can decorate your home with them all the way up to Thanksgiving. Then, you use a few of them in recipes for your Thanksgiving dessert tray.
Ask any kid, and he or she will tell you they want a big, big pumpkin. So, you must deliver. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you have), is to fuel the growth of your fruit to produce the biggest ones you've ever seen. This translates into lots of fertilizer and a constant supply of water. Also, late in the season, you need to be diligent and guard against insects and plant disease, especially powdery mildew.
Keep your patch well watered.
First, turn over a spadeful of soil near the plant. Is it moist down several inches? Great! If not, pour on the water! More on watering your plants.
Add a layer of compost.
Compost feeds the plant. And, it helps to retain soil moisture. It helps to keep weeds down, too.
Big pumpkins have big appetites.
Use regular applications of fertilizer. And, know your types of fertilizer. The ideal fertilizer mixture varies as the season progresses. More on fertilizers.
Tender loving care.
Maintain the health of your plants. Keep a vigilant eye for insect problems and plant disease. Then, apply insecticides and fungicides before problems arise.
Cover the vines with garden soil.
This promotes secondary root growth, and results in much bigger pumpkins. How to promote secondary root growth.
How to grow pumpkins.
From seed selection and planting, step by step through the growing season and on to harvest, get more on how to grow pumpkins.
For the record, to date the largest pumpkin ever grown is 2,749 pounds (shown above). It was grown by Travis Giener. He brought his behemoth to the 50th annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off on October 9, 2023. Will this record, or other records, be broken in the next few weeks? We certainly hope so. And maybe you will be the one to break a world record. Obviously, that’s what this gigantic hobby all about!
Fall Festival and Weigh-Offs
Find Fall Festivals and Weigh offs - Most giant pumpkin weigh-offs are held from late September to early October. However, some weigh-offs are held in late August. And, they are usually an important part of a Fall Festival. The festivals and weigh-offs arrive all too soon. So, make plans now to attend one or two of them.Years Online
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There are all kinds of Fall festivals. And almost always pumpkins play a major role. In addition to giant pumpkin weigh-offs you’ll find them in displays, arts and crafts, at food booths, and much more.
One of the more interesting Fall festivals we’ve attended is the annual Giant Pumpkin Boat Regatta in Damariscotta, Maine. First, they hold a weigh-off. Next, the behemoths are hollowed out, carved into a boat, and decorated. Then, contestants race them in the water. The waterfront crowd is huge. So, plan to arrive early for a good viewing spot. In addition, dozens of giants are made into highly creative art displays lining the main street of the village. Don’t miss the Pumpkin Boat Regatta!
Is it fact or fiction!?!
In fact, this question is frequently asked when growing pumpkins. We focus on providing the ideal conditions for maximizing pumpkin weight. Will feeding milk to the plants plants result in bigger fruit?
Pumpkins are everywhere!
We've discovered pumpkins growing on six of seven continents, all except Antarctica. Like you, gardeners of the world grow them for food and for fun. Can you guess where this pumpkin patch is?
Growing pumpkins is fun.
Like other gardening activities, researchers tell us that growing pumpkns is therapeutic. Eating pumpkins is healthy for you, too. So, add a little pumpkin to your diet all year long.
Quote of the Day:
To err is human, a pumpkin is 'Da Vine!
Todays Quiz Question:
Which colors are pumpkin colors?
In addition to our website, our sister site The Gardener's Network is also on Facebook - Read about gardening happenings and your favorite plants, too. Leave garden related comments. Above all, share a picture of your prize winning pumpkin or roses. Like us on Facebook.
Let's Talk Gardening and Pumpkin Growing! Do you want to talk about gardening, read seasonal appropriate articles about gardening, or share some pictures of your garden.? Join in on the fun, visit the garden blog!
Aside from giant pumpkins, most varieties can be sowed directly into your garden, if you have enough frost free days. Find out more
You are experiencing poor pollination. It's pretty common. Here's how to assure pollination. Find out more
The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed well over a ton. There's a lot of other amazing pumpkin records too. See them
There's many pumpkin festivals and weigh-off sites all over the U.S., and Canada. And, many others around the world, too. Find one near you
Growing pumpkins is fun. Like other gardening activities, researchers tell us its therapeutic. Eating pumpkins is healthy for you. Add a little pumpkin to your diet all year long.
More on Pumpkins and Your Health
We’ve got the largest collection of pumpkin recipes anywhere! See a plethora of recipes in Pumpkin Nook’s Cookbook
