Giant Pumpkin Question

My 11 year old son is dying to try giant pumpkins. Is it better to start the seeds indoors, or direct seed them? Any other expert tips? He's not trying to win a competition, but I'd like for him to be successful! Thanks

I have never grown giants, but have done pumpkins for a couple years. I started them indoors many times just for the simple fact I was planting them in partial sun and wanted them to turn orange in time for carving, but the ones I started outside did better. I've tried the giant pumpkin seeds before, but they never got really large. I think there is a lot of specific care to get them that big. Hopefully, someone can give you really good tips.

.....Use Google and go to BigPumpkins.com. Free registration. Like most sites you get to name a userid and code number. This board is 99% safe for you and your son. The whole site is about growing giant pumpkins. No eleven year old should offer or give the public side of any site personal information of pictures of one's self.

This haveing been said unless you can spend a minimum of an hour a day actually working with your son I would not grow the so called giant pumpkin. For an unexperienced grower with out hands on mentor help growing a giant might be a planned failure. I would not do that to my eleven year old unless I could be hand in hand for at least an hour a day. The pumpkin called Big Max found in most seed displays will grow up to several hundred pounds and is not near so difficult to raise. It is a bright orange. It is no more difficult to grow than any other mellon or cuke in the same family of genetics.

Ohio is just plum full of real giant pumpkin growers. You may have someone close by that would give you and the lad a bit of hands on coaching. Ask at Big Pumpkins.com. by creating a new line with the heading: STUBENSVILLE OHIO NEED HELP You might be surprised that someone would give you a really good seed already started. Many will be starting those seeds inside their homes as we speak. Direct planting to the patch will not grow the giant of one's dream. It is a detailed work intensive growing, care and feeding project. To do it all one hundred percent reasonably right may also cost upwards to four hundred dollars per plant and sometimes more. Don't just jump in without some knowlege and possibly close by coaching.

I've routinely grown Atlantic Giants in the 100 - 200 pound size without any extraordinary care which is still bragging size. It's best to start (presprout) the seeds in peat cups about 2-3 weeks before planting. Keep in mind that Atlantic Giants are huge plants, they will take up a major piece of your backyard. Reasonable care and a little fertilization should help.

Pumpkin growing is a complete science for some and a true contact sport for others. The numbers now go over a thousand pounds in some areas. Your son would likely enjoy visiting a local contest in the Fall because it's fun to just observe, not compete.

Good luck with your garden.

Al

Here are a few suggestions for pumpkins a bit smaller than Giant (actually the weight on these listed below is on the conservative side). Your son should might want to try one or two of these varieties first, as they are a bit less demanding:

Large size (15 to 25+ pounds): Aspen (93 days); Connecticut Field (120 days); Ghost Rider (115 days); Half Moon (115 days); Howden (115 days); Pankow's Field (120 days); Pro Gold (95 days); Tallman (110 days); Wizard (115 days).

Intermediate size (8 to 15 pounds): Autumn Gold (90 days); Big Autumn (100 days); Jack O'Lantern (115 days); Oz (105 days); Small Sugar Pie (110 days); Tom Fox (110 days); Trick or Treat (105 days).

Here's a How To Grow Pumpkins link:
http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/03/how_to_grow_pumpkin.html

Thank you all for your help. I have the Atlantic Giant seeds, so that's what I'll go with. We have plenty of room to grow it, and it's nice to know that it will still get big, even if it doesn't get gigantic! Thanks again!