The Best Way to Start a Giant Pumpkin Seed
The how and why to start giant pumpkin seeds
Why you need to start your giant pumpkin seeds the correct way
- Soil outside can have microscopic pathogens that can harm your seed.
- Your plant could grow completely in the wrong direction, causing more headaches later in the growing season.
Starting your giant pumpkin seeds isn’t hard to do. I’ll show you the best way to do it and the items you will need.
What you will need
- Giant Pumpkin Seeds
- Nail File or Sandpaper
- Paper Towel
- Plastic Zip Lock Bag
- Marker Peg
- Marker Pen
- Cup of Warm Water
- Seed Raising Mix
- A pot

Nail File or Sandpaper I like using nail files (emery boards) you can pick up a whole pack for $2 which is great if you have a lot of seeds to prepare, ideal if you have children helping you.
Paper Towel This can be any brand
Plastic Zip Lock Type Bag I find the sandwich sized bags work well.
Marker Peg Recycle ice block sticks, make them out of icecream container lids, or buy some.
Marker Pen Something like a sharpie is ideal to mark everything with
Seed Raising Mix Seed raising mix has everything your seed will need at this early stage and should be used instead of soil from out of your garden or pumpkin patch.
A pot Plastic or peat are your two options here. I prefer plastic pots as they can be reused. For size I like a pot that is around 1.3 litres,
Method of Starting Giant Pumpkin Seeds
Step 1. Name Everything
If you are worried about animals, kids or something else removing the plant marker peg make sure you label the pot as well. Putting a piece of tape down the side and writing on that allows you to easily remove the writing so you can reuse and avoid confusions at a later date.
Step 2. File the edges of the seed
Step 3. Place seed in the paper and then into the bag
Placing this bag in an area that has some constant warmth helps with germination. An ideal location is on top of a hot water cylinder. Other locations that might work for you is the top of a fridge, or a window sill that gets sun, the key is anywhere there is consistent warmth.
More experienced growers of giant pumpkins will be using heat mats to achieve this. Germination of the seed usually occurs between3 – 7 days, but it may take longer depending on various factors, don’t give up on the seed if it take longer than this.
Step 4. Check germination
Step 5. Place into a pot


Pre Soaking Giant Pumpkin Seeds
An optional step many growers do
How Long to Keep Seedling in the Pot
You want to keep your seedling in the pot until the first true leaf appears. This is the third leaf that appears. This is important as the pumpkin plants vine will grow opposite this, which allows you to place the seedling the correct way around in your pumpkin patch.
Growers want to get the seedlings into the patch as soon as possible, but will need early season protection to make sure they don’t get killed by weather or animals.