Still Time to Get and Plant Pumpkin Seeds

It still isn't too late to plant seeds and have an enormous jack-o-lantern this fall. If you are new to growing giant pumpkins there are only two variety of plants that I think you should consider. Prize Winner and Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkins. Prize Winners can grow up to about 200 pounds and can be purchased at many local garden shops such as Echter's in Arvada. The average Prize Winner pumpkin is around 80 pounds in weight. Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkins set new world records each year with the new champion grown last year at a whopping 1689 pounds. The average pumpkin is about 250 pounds. For each of these varieties you will need some space. Vines will grow up to 30 feet in length by the end of the season if they are not maintained.

Planting a pumpkin seed is easy. In a nice peat pot place the seed about a quarter of an inch below the soil surface in a nice starter soil and keep the soil lightly moist over the next 12-14 days. After about 14 days the pumpkin plant should start pushing through the top of the soil and you will be amazed at how fast that little plant will grow.