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

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

THINNING & TRANSPLANTING For extra-large pumpkins, thin to the one healthiest plant per hill, otherwise leave 2 or 3 plants per hill. It is recommended to mulch when plants are 1-2 in. high.

SUGGESTIONS:  Plant in full sun in deeply tilled well-drained soil 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.  Pumpkins may also be planted in rows 6 to 10 feet apart, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart in the row.  Keep well fertilized in balanced amounts. For largest size pumpkins, 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.  Cut these large pumpkins from vines with pruning shears, leaving 3 to 4 inches of the stem. Handle them carefully.

PUMPKIN
Big Max
Cucurbita spp.

120 days. Huge pumpkins often weigh from 50 to 100 pounds and can have a diameter of 20 to 70 inches or more. (Pumpkins up to 70 in. around and often weighing 100 lbs. or more, are possible if given plenty of moisture, fertilizer and space.) Distinctive bright orange skin covers 4 in. thick bright yellow-orange flesh. Delicious for pies. Ready about 120 days after sowing.