world record size pumpkins

I am considering planting some seeds of Dill's Atlantic pumpkin. Record is over one thousand pounds.
Would love to get as much input from you gardners as to how to raise the really huge ones.
Would it help to plant in a container....such as the earth box....in order to get more constant feeding and moisture?

I grew them last year. I set up a hill just for them. The fall before, I preped the area by putting in two loads of horse manure and composted leaves and garden debris. You are supposed to give each plant a lot of room. Most record growers limit each plant to one pumpkin. I did not do this. I had about three per plant. I hand pollinated the flowers and then watched them grow. The biggest was a few hundred pounds. Most record growers also feed very heavily. A guy near me grew one that was close to a half a ton. A neat site to visit is http://bigpumkins.com Ken usually has seeds to share. I have some too. One note, pumkins are reatively shallow rooted. A good practice is to bury the vine in several spots to increase root area, so I am not sure how good a boxed vine would fare.

This link works:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/

Frank,

Got a question that's bothered me everytime I read about these giants: how do you move them? And, more to the point, how do you weigh a pumpkin that goes a thousand pounds?

Thanks for the help guys. That site seems to be the one I need. And Brook, I would let my wife move and weigh it somehow. haha I'll raise em and she can move em:)
Actually, I would cut it into 25 lb. chunks and weigh each one individually.

Brook, the same way you weigh the dog. First you weigh yourself, then you hold the dog and check the weight of both you and the dog. Then it's just a matter of basic math! Oh, and don't forget to eat your wheaties that morning! Hernia patients, might consider getting some help.LOL Seriously, they are usually moved with a sling system and the aid of some big machines. When you are deciding which pumpkin to leave on the vine, positioning is very important. Too close to the root system and the growing giant will pull the plant out of the ground.
Thanks for the technical help Terri.

Darn it, Frank, my scale only goes to 999 lbs. Ain't enough for me and the pumpkin both. :-)

So let me understand this. I can start with a packet of seeds for $2.95. But then I have to invest several thousands of dollars in special slings and heavy equipment?

Hardly seems worthwhile.

oblambert...I'm know I'm being sarcastic, but if you can cut them into 25lb chunks why would you have to weigh them? On a more serious side, are there any other uses for this pumpkin besides it's weight?
frank...will flutie flakes work better?

Brook, it's the thrill of the challenge that counts, not the cost!LOL! If I'd have looked at it from the finacial standpoint, rather than letting my heart direct me, I would now be a multi millionaire, without a greenhouse, garden or wife!!LOL...(Terri, now is a good time for you NOT to call Beth.)
Carol, I'm partial to wheaties myself, but one thing is certain, if you are going to lift thousand poound pumpkins, it's best to stay away from bran and prunes!LOL!!
The local guy that grew a prize winner said you would never want to eat his pumpkin since it was so heavily fertilized. My friend took one of mine to his mother, for pies, but I don't know what came of it.

LMAO If all of us clowns got together and raised a garden, just think of the fun we could have! It is good to see such levity in these forums:)

Never did like wheaties, so think I will just stick with my morning prune juice and raising 10 lb. tomatoes:) Much easier to weigh! And after buying those $37 earth boxes, I really can't afford the expensive straps and heavy equipment anyway:)

Yoo hoo? Oh Beth? Guess what your DH just said? ROFL

Terri

You guys are hilarious! By the way, how DO you grow 10 lb tomatoes?
Birdie

Owen,

If all of us clowns got together there wouldn't be time to raise a garden. We'd be too busy holding our sides, and waiting for our pants to dry.

Birdie: To heck with growing a ten pound 'mater. I mean, what would you _do_ with it? Oh, wait! I know. You could use a pair of them for eyes in the Jack-o-lantern you make with one of them half-ton punkins.

Frank...Could I have a few of your extra pumpkin seeds? I'd like to have an autumn yard decoration where "The Joneses" have to keep up with me for a change. lol By the way, if I was acquainted with your wife I'd try to persuade her to have a photo superimposed of you holding one of those big pumpkins over your head on the front of a Wheaties box. I guess I won't get any seeds now! ROFL
Carol

Sure Carol, just send me your address.