5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Growing Giant Pumpkins

You Need the Right Seed

I never knew there was a variety for giant pumpkins. I was given a giant pumpkin seedling from my sister to grow.

The second year of growing, I found a packet of seeds that said giant pumpkin from a local store.

It’s not until you get into the hobby, or if you’ve done the research, you realise you need Atlantic Giant. This is the variety of seed that produces the largest giant pumpkins in the world.

Giant pumpkin seeds

You can look up giant pumpkin family trees, and see where the seed originated from. Top growers work out what they want to grow each year and decide based on that, and how it’s grown for other people.

You Can Have Bad Seasons

I think new growers need to realise that everyone can and will most likely have a poor season.

The reason for the poor season can come down to a bunch of different reasons. They could include:

  • Genetics from the seed causes problems
  • Unexpected weather takes out your plant or pumpkin
  • Some sort of mishap caused by humans
  • Rogue animals causing problems
  • Plant diseases

 

Try to Work Out the Why

If you have a poor season, try to work out what the cause was. Taking notes throughout the season will help when you look back.

There is a Lot of Luck Involved

There is a lot of things that can go wrong. So a large amount of luck is needed to grow a giant pumpkin.

Doing the right things, at the right time and getting advice improves your luck for the season.

Every grower will have amazing seasons, average seasons and maybe a couple of bad ones.

People are Great at Sharing Knowledge

This holds true for almost any hobby. People are very open and keen to share information with new people.

You just need to work out where these people hang out and the best way to find them.

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Luckily with the explosion of the internet, it is now easier than ever to talk to people to learn more.

This is ideal for new people. You can get advice, find out what you need. And see if this hobby is for you, all before spending too much time and money.

Giant pumpkin growers are really good at helping and sharing knowledge. Because of this the hobby/sport has grown. There is no super-secret to it. But there is a lot of tried and true methods.

For finding giant pumpkin growers to talk to, you have 3 main areas to look at.

BigPumpkins.com

Facebook Groups

Local growing clubs/groups

There is a wealth of knowledge out there, and if you want to speed up your learning and get better results, make sure you talk to people.

People Love Pumpkins

I never realised just how much people love seeing pumpkins. If it’s bright orange it’s even more exciting for people.

It’s a great talking point, especially if people see it growing. So many people get excited seeing a giant pumpkin.

Bushmere Arms Pumpkin Event

Bonus Item

The more you put in, the more you will get out.

This is common sense, but something you need to hear. You don’t need to start crazy, but keeping this in mind will help.

If you’re after the biggest pumpkin you can grow, put the effort in.

What about you?

If you’ve grown a giant pumpkin, what things do you wish you’d have known beforehand?

Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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