Days to Germination: 7-14
Days To Harvest:  120-130
Planting Depth: 1/2 inch
Spacing, Hill: 6-10 foot
Spacing, Seed: 3-4 seeds per hill
Light:  Sunny Location

SOW in sunny location after danger of last spring frost and after weather is warm.  (For earlier plants start seeds indoors 2 to 3 weeks before setting out.)  Plant 3 to 4 seeds in hills 6 to 10 ft. apart. Cover seed with 1/2 inch fine soil firmed down. 


THINNING & TRANSPLANTING For prize-winning pumpkins, thin to the one healthiest plant per hill, otherwise leave 2 or 3 plants per hill.

Suggestions:  Plant in full sun in deeply tilled well-drained soil high in humus with adequate moisture.  Make sure to leave enough room for the long vines. Can be grown in sunny landscape beds or between rows of corn.  Keep well fertilized in balanced amounts. Prune all but one or two pumpkins per plant to which the plant will concentrate nutrients for growth. Carefully place a board or some straw under maturing pumpkins to keep them from being bruised by moist soil.   Pick fruits at maturity because too many days of sun on fruits in the field after maturity will bleach handles and sunscald the fruits.

PUMPKIN
Dill's Atlantic Giant

WORLD'S LARGEST PUMPKIN. The grand-daddy of all giant pumpkins. When properly nurtured it grows pumpkins of enormous size. The current world record is an Atlantic Giant of 1,385 lb. This variety of pumpkin produces 400-500 lb. fruit consistently with proper growing procedures [fertile soil, irrigation, wide spacing (70 or more sq.ft./plant), and limiting each long-vined plant to only one fruit.] 50 to 100 pound pumpkins are common if plants are not pruned. The only one to grow for giant pumpkin contests and international competitions. While this pumpkin is grown primarily for exhibition and competition, the flesh can be used for cooking. Despite its size the high quality flesh is creamy, smooth and flavorful. Perfect for huge jack o' lanterns and fall displays. The pumpkins have a fairly smooth shell with ribs and the color varies from yellow to medium orange. Approximately 120-130 days to maturity.