Things You'll Need:
- Great pumpkin seed
- Soil amendments
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Step 1
Get great pumpkin seeds. If you're going to grow big pumpkins for Halloween pumpkin carving, you're going to have to start with great seeds. The consistent world-record biggest pumpkin is "Atlantic Giant" but if you're not trying to break records, the heirloom pumpkin seeds for ROUGE VIF d’ ETAMPES can be another good choice.
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Step 2
Prepare your soil. Pumpkins need lots of nutrients like those found in cow or horse manure. So, amend that soil really, really well so that you can grow big pumpkins.
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Step 3
Start seeds indoors. To grow big pumpkins, starting them indoors gives the plants plenty of time to develop. Take really good care of your seedlings while they're indoors (care is the same as for other seedlings). When the weather's right in your area, move them outdoors--gently--and keep them protected for the first 4-6 weeks of their outdoors time. (Storm windows make a great "greenhouse" protection for your growing plants.)
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Step 4
Choose just a few pumpkins on each plant. Once your plant has gone from pumpkin flowers to pumpkins, pinch off some of the pumpkins. This will help the plant concentrate on a smaller number of pumpkins which will let the plant grow big pumpkins instead of a lot of small pumpkins.
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Step 5
Keep those pumpkins fertilized! Growing big pumpkins is taxing on the plant, so keep it well cared for and fertilize once or twice a week. Be careful, though, as too much fertilizer can make the pumpkins grow too fast and that's not good if you want to grow big pumpkins.
Comments
JanieWrites said
on 4/22/2009 My granddaughter is growing pumpkins this year for Halloween - great tips, Thanks!