I don’t know if you have heard of the story about the giant pumpkin. It goes something like this: The giant pumpkin will fly out of the garden and send messages to all the good children in the world. Gift. So, if you are willing, go grow giant pumpkins now. Although you may not be flying out to give gifts to children or something, you may be able to win the prize money of the Giant Pumpkin Contest. Follow the method described in this article, and your pumpkin will grow very big. Just wait for your family, friends, and neighbors to open their eyes and marvel in admiration.
How to grow giant pumpkins. This DIY tutorial includes: choosing the right soil, selecting seeds for germination, pollinating your pumpkins, and cultivating giant pumpkins. If you want to learn how to grow giant pumpkins, Pumpkins, read this article from the Production Department to learn how to grow giant pumpkins!
Choose the right soil
1Purchase or prepare soil suitable for the growth of giant pumpkins. Take some soil samples from the area where you plan to plant and send them to the local agriculture or land conservation agency for testing. You will know the content of various nutrients in the soil and see if anything is missing. Pumpkins will grow very vigorously in suitable soil. Generally, when the weather warms up in early spring, the land can be cleared and ready for sowing. - Based on every 100 square meters of land, a giant pumpkin needs about two pounds of nitrogen fertilizer, three pounds of phosphate fertilizer and six pounds of potassium fertilizer. Then the appropriate pH should be between 6.5 and 6.8.
- Pumpkin needs soil that drains well as it does not tolerate moisture.
- Based on every 100 square meters of land, a giant pumpkin needs about two pounds of nitrogen fertilizer, three pounds of phosphate fertilizer and six pounds of potassium fertilizer. Then the appropriate pH should be between 6.5 and 6.8.
2Add ready-mixed fertilizer to the soil.If the test results of your soil show that it does not meet the standards written above, then consider applying corresponding fertilizer.- Even if your soil is up to standard, you can also sprinkle some granular fertilizer on the surface, which will be of great benefit to the growth of your pumpkins. The specific time to fertilize is a few days before you transplant your pumpkin seedlings.
- Even if your soil is up to standard, you can also sprinkle some granular fertilizer on the surface, which will be of great benefit to the growth of your pumpkins. The specific time to fertilize is a few days before you transplant your pumpkin seedlings.
3Pay attention to the planting site to have sufficient sunlight. Pumpkin is a light-loving plant. Only when there is sufficient sunlight can it grow healthily and grow large enough. At the same time, pumpkin seedlings should be prevented from being blown by strong winds, and you can consider adding some windproof shelters. 
4Add some organic matter to the soil. Organic fertilizers like farmyard manure can help pumpkins grow stronger and bigger. Organic fertilizer should be mixed into the top 10 cm of soil.
Seed selection and germination
1Choose seeds suitable for farming. The genotypes of seeds you choose are important; they should beThe kind of seeds that grow into large pumpkins. You can obtain suitable seeds in two ways: - Contact the Pumpkin Growers Association. Their contact information is available online and you can buy seeds from there.
- Buy seeds from a farmer who grows giant pumpkins. The top-quality giant pumpkin seeds can cost as much as $50 each.
- Contact the Pumpkin Growers Association. Their contact information is available online and you can buy seeds from there.
2Sowing seeds. If you are in an area where frosts still occur in late April and May, you should sow seeds in pots and keep them indoors. If theres no frost, or you think it wouldn't matter if there was one, plant outside in the garden. Those seeds that germinate the fastest tend to produce the largest pumpkins. - Indoor germination: Plant the seeds in a mud flower pot with a soil thickness of more than 20 cm. Moisten the soil, plant the seeds in a soil layer about 3 cm deep, and then place it at about 26°C. Some people put it in the greenhouse, others put it on top of the refrigerator, whichever is more convenient for you. The seeds will germinate in about 3-5 days.
- Outdoor germination: Soak the seeds in warm water for 4 hours before planting. Then dig a pit with a diameter of about half a meter, plant 5 seeds in each pit, and cover it with 3 centimeters of soil. If you have the means, consider building a greenhouse and growing seeds inside.
- Indoor germination: Plant the seeds in a mud flower pot with a soil thickness of more than 20 cm. Moisten the soil, plant the seeds in a soil layer about 3 cm deep, and then place it at about 26°C. Some people put it in the greenhouse, others put it on top of the refrigerator, whichever is more convenient for you. The seeds will germinate in about 3-5 days.
3Transplant the seedlings. This step is for indoor germination For seedlings. When you see the first true leaves (complete and green) growing out, you can transplant. - Pile several mounds about half a meter in size (height), and then plant a seedling in each mound. The distance between mounds should be at least 5 meters. If possible, build a small greenhouse on top of each mound to keep the seedlings warm.
- When the day is hot, remove the tent or small greenhouse above to prevent the seedlings from overheating.
- Pile several mounds about half a meter in size (height), and then plant a seedling in each mound. The distance between mounds should be at least 5 meters. If possible, build a small greenhouse on top of each mound to keep the seedlings warm.
Pollinate your pumpkin
1Put up the melon vines. The longest and thickest melon vines often produce the largest pumpkins. Monitor your melon vines at any time to see how your pumpkins are growing. 
2Pollinate the pumpkin by hand. Hand pollination is the safest way, but if you don't have the time or energy to do it, you can also let bees do it for you. The flowering period of pumpkins is usually at the end of July. 
3 Pumpkin is a dioecious plant, so confirm the gender of the flower before pollination. Sexual reproduction of any species is inseparable from the male and female parents. Also wait until the plant is mature enough to have about 200 leaves before pollinating. - There will be small pumpkins at the base of the flowers of female plants, and there is no pollen in the flowers. In order to get the strongest female parent, you can remove the first female flower and wait for the second or third female flower to serve as the female parent (usually the female flowers that grow when the melon seedling grows to about 3 meters will be stronger).
- Male flowers contain stamens, which are covered with pollen. These male flowers tend to bloom later than the female flowers.
- There will be small pumpkins at the base of the flowers of female plants, and there is no pollen in the flowers. In order to get the strongest female parent, you can remove the first female flower and wait for the second or third female flower to serve as the female parent (usually the female flowers that grow when the melon seedling grows to about 3 meters will be stronger).
4Remove the petals of the male flowers. This step must wait until the female flowers are at their most prosperous. Removing petals helps expose pollen. Rub the stamens on the stigma of the female flower a few times. The highest success rate for this step is mid-June. This gives the pumpkin enough time to continue developing.
Create a giant pumpkin
1Select your training target. Thats the biggest pumpkin ball among them. Each melon vine usually bears two to three pumpkins. When your pumpkins grow to the size of footballs, choose one on a seedling that is most likely to grow and cut off the rest. This is done so that all the nutrients of the plant are supplied to that pumpkin, allowing it to grow the best and largest. 
2Tear off the roots around the pumpkin. Pumpkin seedlings will take root wherever there are leaves. Pulling out the roots near the pumpkin will free up more space for the pumpkin to grow. And if the roots are not pulled out, the pumpkin seedlings will be pulled down by the roots, which may tear the seedlings away from the already grown pumpkin. In this case, the fun is over. - Lead the melon vines away from the pumpkins. As the pumpkin grows, it may crush the melon vine.
- Lead the melon vines away from the pumpkins. As the pumpkin grows, it may crush the melon vine.
3Pick off the top and side branches of the melon vine. This is also to provide all the nutrients to the pumpkin as much as possible. 
4During the dry season, water each plant twice a week, with about 60-75L of water each time. Watering is best at night because pumpkins grow mainly at night. Do not pour water on the leaves as wet leaves are susceptible to disease. 
5Harvest pumpkin. Pumpkins are mature when they stop growing and become darker (and larger). The skins are very hard and the vines may have withered.
You need to prepare
- Fertilizer
- High quality pumpkin seeds
- Germination conditions
- Clean tent
- Trimming stand
Extended reading:
1. How to grow beans. Illustrated tutorial on growing beans and peas
2. Illustrated tutorial on growing cabbage: How to grow cabbage
3. How to grow sunflowers yourself. Illustrated tutorial on growing sunflowers
4. Rose planting tutorial: How to grow roses
5. How to germinate grains and plant sprouts picture tutorial
