From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Hi all, i am a "newbie" with giant pumpkin growing. I have just germinated my first seeds and have prepared my garden soil and feel ready for the next step. I do however have a question around what i should expect from the "Atlantic Giant Pumpkin" seeds. As a novice with no experience and using those seeds, what should i expect to grow as an average sized pumpkin? Thanks so much to all those who take the time to reply. Much appreciated all the way from South Africa

5/2/2015 3:25:00 PM

Rapid City, SD

where did you get the seed from?

5/2/2015 3:47:52 PM

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Hi, i bought 5 seeds from a website selling "Dill's Atlantic giant"

http://www.seedsforafrica.co.za/collections/vegetable-seeds/products/dills-atlantic-giant-pumpkin-cucurbita-maxima-5-seeds-grows-up-to-500kgs

5/2/2015 3:51:31 PM

Rapid City, SD

ah....interesting.......never seen that site before...not many of us growers would grow Atlantic Giants seeds that did not come from the grow...although....not sure about the ones you have....i think 150 to 500 pound range....i hope you have done a little research on growing these animals.....you will need wind protection.....pesticides....fungisides and feeding shedule
best of luck to you

5/2/2015 4:05:38 PM

Rapid City, SD

meant to say.....seed right from another grower

5/2/2015 4:06:20 PM

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Thanks! :-) either way i am excited to see what i can get from these seeds. At the last competition where i live the winning pumpkin was only 263 pounds. I will set my sights for that range.

5/2/2015 4:10:27 PM

Rapid City, SD

you should come into the chat rooms.........ask questions.....we all will help you best we can

5/2/2015 4:11:48 PM

Mn

For many years I have grown AG seeds from the big box store, with many 200lb+ and a couple of 350. 2 years ago I had one at apx 400 per tape. Have fun.

5/2/2015 4:57:56 PM

stoughton WI

a really big fence to keep out elephants

5/2/2015 5:11:50 PM

stoughton WI

wayne, if you ever need seeds feel free to email me at rickjoli@hotmail.com. im sure there are many other growers that would also be willing to send seeds. good luck and have fun growing.

5/2/2015 5:14:46 PM

Hanson Ma

I'm a third year grower. Expect to learn all you can from this year and have fun learning. Don't expect to have something huge, but the biggest you can grow. I tried for 5 years and always had something go wrong. But after I found BP and got so much info and met so many great people at the way off It finally clicks. My first pumpkin was 393 from unknown seed. So do the best you can and make sure you get into your local club and go to patch tour if they have one. Good luck and always have fun.

Mike

5/2/2015 8:16:12 PM

Central NY

Lol Rick j... That's what I was thinking ...

5/2/2015 8:27:41 PM

Central NY

And yes waynnee.. Lots of us growers would be more than happy to send "real" Atlantic seeds with the good genetics...I would try to get ahold of a few of the local competitors and ask them about pest control...tips and tricks to get them to grow BIG can be found on this website.. Best of luck to you..would love to see a Pumpkin Diary from South Africa !!

5/2/2015 8:31:45 PM

Central NY

Wait a minute here...yer not VTsteves buddy are you?...

5/2/2015 8:33:29 PM

Freedom Is Just Another Word For Noting Left To Lose

LoL Porkchop!! You damn near invited him over for dinner and spend the weekend @ your house. If I remember right, VTsteve's stalker, I mean buddy was from the UK.

5/2/2015 8:53:47 PM

Home of happy lil plants

vtsteve has many fans!

5/2/2015 9:25:22 PM

Central NY

Lol... Oh yea

5/2/2015 9:26:36 PM

Central NY

I was gonna say....

5/2/2015 9:27:09 PM

Ely Mn

I seen some lion's from Africa today at the Zoo....I wouldn't want to come face to face with one of those in the wild!WOW!

5/2/2015 9:34:24 PM

Citrus Heights, CA

I would wait for you're spring. You will have better conditions for growing then.

5/3/2015 12:39:06 AM

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Hahaha who is VTsteve? I have no illusions that i will in fact grow a monster. Trust me! My pet Elephant is not well trained so i might loose a lot of crop to him.

Thanks for all the replies, i can tell i am going to be hooked!!!

5/3/2015 12:53:26 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Maybe I had too many mint Julips durning our Kentucky derby party yesterday but isn't it about to be winter in South Africa?

5/3/2015 9:01:24 AM

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Hi Orangeneck. It is about to be winter, but where i am there is no risk of frost and i doubt the temp will go lower than 8 or 9 degrees Celsius. My only worry is heavy rainfall. Not to sure how i will prevent the soil from flooding.

5/3/2015 10:10:22 AM

South Hero, VT

The guy who was pestering me and my Facebook friends was from India. He wanted everyone to send him seeds without reimbursing the growers. When I told him to contact people on this website who offered to send him free seeds , he refused.

Something wasn't right there.

5/3/2015 11:37:19 AM

Colorado

Theres been some decent sized pumpkins grown in south africa. Maybe some of those growers will see your post. A lot of westerers dont realize SA has fair weather for growing crops in its southern area.

5/3/2015 1:01:21 PM

Colorado

To answer your question on how big. Anywhere from 200 to 1000lbs . Depends on the unknown genetics in the seeds youre growing,plant care,soil and the weather. have fun

5/3/2015 1:04:07 PM

East Jordan, MI

IMO, up to 1000 lbs, weather, soil prep, amount of water available will have a larger affect on pumpkin size than where the seeds came from. The store bought seeds might be able to reach 1000 if everything else lines up.

5/3/2015 8:57:49 PM