Courtesy Zoonar / ThinkstockLarger pumpkin species ( Cucurbita maxima ) take even watering and right fertilization to produce a elephantine fruit . If crowing is better in your record book , you might also thin the yield to one or two pumpkin vine .
Even though it ’s too former to embark on grow your own knave - o’-lantern for this class ’s Halloween festivity , you may begin strategizing now for how to wow your neighbors next twelvemonth with jumbo pumpkins .
Gardeners wanting togrow pumpkinsthat are full-grown need to commence with genetic science , says Bob Westerfield , home vegetable medical specialist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Exension . You ’re not seem for the same seed that produces your run - of - the - milljack - o’-lanternsor pie pumpkin vine .
The distinctive Proto-Indo European pumpkin ’s scientific name isCucurbita pepo . The larger pumpkin species isCucurbita maxima , and these are the seeds you require to start with if your goal is to originate big . Competition pumpkin growers sell the germ from the previous championship plant for as much as $ 10 to $ 20 per seed , enounce George Boyhan , a UGA horticulturalist who has spent many long time breed standardpumpkin varietiesthat fly high in the Southeast , but vulgar giant pumpkin seeded player are available for less . One of the considerably - known vulgar giant pumpkin varieties is Dill ’s Atlantic Giant , and its seeds start at about $ 3 per pack .
Once you ’ve contract the correct seed , harbor onto it until spring , when you ’ll put it into the reason . Pumpkins need to be planted between May 15 and July 1 to reach their maximum sizes by the fall . jumbo pumpkins need super - rich , heavilycompostedsoil to thrive . Test and amend your soil until thepHlevel is at about 6.5 to 6.8 . If you ’re looking to grow a giant Cucurbita pepo , you take to put extra effort into making sure it’swateredregularly and properlyfertilizedthroughout the farm time of year .
Westerfield warns not to over - fertilize at the beginning because that could stimulate the plant to drop all of its Energy Department growing a topnotch - tenacious or top-notch - fatheaded vine before it produces any yield . He suggests fertilizing the flora right after plant , once in good order after the tiny pumpkin look and maybe twice again before the end of the develop time of year . You might also require to take precaution , such as using rowing cover version , to check crush vine borer , which lay their egg inside the vine of the plant and can quickly have irreversible damage .
Once the pumpkin works produce flowers , thin some of the female flowers from the vine . The female peak have diminutive fruit at the stem of the bud .
After the pumpkins emerge and before they get very great , slim down the yield , as well , so all of the plant ’s energy is directed toward take a shit one or two gargantuan yield . pick out one or two of the most promising - looking pumpkins on your plant to keep and foot off the others . Serious patronage growers pass on only one pumpkin on each vine , Boyhan say , though Westerfield suggest leaving two per vine to double your chances of getting a show - suitable pumpkin vine .
Once you ’ve picked your success , watch out , water and wait . Your autumn pumpkin might need to be rolled around from metre to metre to keep it from getting diffuse place . Some agriculturalist care to lay down a bed of hay for their prize pumpkin or keep them on a pallet to repress the chance of rot .
When former September striking , you should be able to wow your supporter and neighbors with what you ’ve grown .
