Grow a garden filled with Atlantic Giant Pumpkins from freshly harvested Cucurbita maxima seeds. Atlantic Giant produces pumpkins of abnormal and epic proportions. This particular variety can grow fruits with a massive weight of 200 to 300 pounds or more. It is recommended that you have a large sowing area as these plants will vine outwards taking up at least 20 to 25 feet.
Pumpkins have a number of health benefits and are fairly easy to grow from fresh Pumpkin seeds. Because of its high content of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A) pumpkins are great for improving eye sight. Other benefits of this delicious fruit include: Healthy & younger looking skin, improved immunity and strengthened immune system and weight loss. Some studies show that Pumpkins can even lower your risk of cancer as well.
The Atlantic Giant Pumpkin is seen in all sorts of competitions. Growers try their best to grow the largest pumpkins, and to date, the largest recorded weighs over 1,650 pounds. These massive fruits can also be hollowed out to create rafts or canoes, allowing competitors to race to the finish line.
Check out our Pumpkin category for a list of all of our most popular Pumpkins. You might also be interested in purchasing our “Spooky Mixture” for a blend of all sorts of different pumpkins. Included are a favorites such as “small sugar” and the famous “Jack O’ Lantern” as well.
Sowing The Seed
Pumpkins are best established directly outdoors in the summer. Be sure to select a large enough area for the plants to grow and vine outwards. Remove all unwanted plant life from your sowing area, turning the dirt, or replacing the dirt with a fresh soil. Create mounds of dirt or “hills” roughly 18 to 24 inches wide and at least 8 inches high. Sow 4 seeds per mound at a depth of 1.5 inch under topsoil. (See “Germination & Growth” for spacing and other growth habits)
Growing Conditions
Pumpkins enjoy the heat of summer and will thrive in temperatures that are above 75F. The soil should be rich in organic matter, but will also need to be well drained. To improve drainage, it is recommended to add a light compost to any hard, compacted soil in the sowing area. This will prevent the roots from rotting. Water the seeds daily with a mild setting so that the seeds and seedlings are kept moist until germination occurs.
Germination & Growth
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin seeds will begin to sprout open in roughly 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants will grow to a mature height of 1 to 2 feet tall and 20 to 25 feet long. These plants will need a large area to grow outwards and can be spaced by hills or mounds of dirt, rather than rows. As explained above mounds should be 18 to 24 inches wide and at least 8 inches tall. Space each mound at least 6 to 8 feet apart from one another. When sprouts become visible, direct the vines outwards towards areas that do not contain other plant life.
Harvesting
When your vines start to establish pumpkins, be sure to place straw under the fruits to prevent them from touching the bare ground beneath, as this will prevent rotting. Your Atlantic Giant Pumpkins will be ready for harvest in roughly 125 days after first sprouts appear. Harvest by cutting the stems at least 2 to 3 inches from the actual fruits, otherwise the fruits will rot.