Giant pumpkin


A giant pumpkin is an orange fruit that is a cultivar of the squash Cucurbita maxima, commonly weighing from to over.

History

Growing giant pumpkins emerged from the North American agricultural tradition. The Smithsonian notes that "improbably", giant pumpkins trace themselves to Henry David Thoreau, who in 1857 grew a pumpkin weighing, which he detailed in his unfinished work Wild Fruits. The first competition giant pumpkins were grown by William Warnock of Ontario, Canada. His first record was, measured at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In 1900, Warnock's pumpkin was exhibited at the Paris World's Fair, and won a bronze medal. He beat his own record four years later, and began to provide advice to other growers on how to achieve large pumpkin yields. Warnock's record stood for some 70 years before a pumpkin growing renaissance emerged, and records were quickly shattered. Growing giant pumpkins remains a mostly North American pursuit, especially in the Northeastern United States, although several recent record holders have been European.
Giant pumpkin growing has inspired numerous related activities, including giant pumpkin boat races, and pumpkin chucking. Giant pumpkins are often exhibited at county fairs and related exhibitions.

Cultivation

Giant pumpkins are Cucurbita maxima, a different species from the pumpkins used for jack-o'-lanterns or pumpkin pies, which are usually C. pepo. C. maxima likely emerged from wild squash in South America near Buenos Aires. The fruits of wild Cucurbita maxima are around the size of a softball.
Unusually large pumpkin cultivars have been sold since at least 1834, when the 'Mammoth' variety was first offered. Little formal scientific effort has gone into finding giant pumpkins, instead increasing yields have been selected by mostly ordinary growers. Many recent pumpkins have been of the 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' cultivar selected by Howard Dill and likely descended from 'Mammoth'. Seeds of prize winning giant pumpkins are extremely valuable, with single seeds selling for up to US$850. Pedigrees similar to ones used in horse racing have been adopted for use with giant pumpkins. Despite their enormous size, they are not generally eaten, as they are not particularly tasty, and may be inedible.
Giant pumpkins may expand by up to a day. This is made possible by several genetic adaptions. Giant pumpkin cells grow larger than regular pumpkins, and are composed of more water. They also lack genes that stop fruit growth, resulting in continuous expansion. Once pumpkins grow so large, they tend to no longer be round but will flatten out under their own intense weight. They will often form an arch shape on the bottom of the pumpkin for additional support as they "pancake" out. Some pumpkins may even collapse under their own weight, and transporting them is a significant challenge due to their fragility. Champion growers often grow many pumpkins, as pumpkins that crack under their own weight will be disqualified from competition.
Genetics are only part of the enormous size growers can achieve. Improved agricultural techniques, including pruning so that there is only one fruit per vine, maximizing soil tilth, and modern pest control, are important factors. Some competitors set up an IV-like cannula to deliver nutrient-rich fluids directly to the stem that feeds the growing fruit. Pumpkins grown at high latitudes tend to be larger, as they have longer daylight hours and cooler, but shorter, summer seasons. However, seasons can be extended in the north by using cloches or other coverings. The time from seeding to harvest is usually 130 to 140 days, compared to 90 to 120 days for non giants. Folk wisdom in the early 20th century held that feeding milk to the pumpkins would help them grow, but this does not likely affect size. Modern growers may use professional soil laboratory analysis to ensure ideal soil nutrition. Giant pumpkins are heavy feeders, and some farmers may use large quantities of chicken manure to fertilize pumpkins, following in the footsteps of Warnock, whose first champion fruits were fertilized by chicken manure. Fungal mycorrhizal and Azospirillum bacterial soil amendments have gained popularity in recent years.

World record giant pumpkins by year

Since the 1970s, the largest-pumpkin record has regularly been beaten. Given this regularity and the overall rate of increase, there appear to still be substantial genetic and cultural improvements to be made in giant pumpkin growing. Structurally, calculations by David Hu of Georgia Tech estimate that a perfect pumpkin could grow up to without breaking. Other factors, such as overly rapid hydration, can still cause fruit to crack. This occurs when the volume of delivered fluids outpaces the growth rate and flexibility of the skin, much like a bursting balloon. The true upper limit regardless of structural stability and cracks is likely determined by other factors. For example, the number of sieve tube elements in the sugar-conducting phloem in a stem limits the amount of resources available to grow the fruit. There are also limitations imposed by the climate, diseases, pests, and growing season duration. Every year, about 10,000 growers attempt to grow champion pumpkins, and several thousand make it to official weigh-offs.
YearGrowerCountryWeightReference
2025Ian and Stuart PatonUnited Kingdom
2023Travis GiengerUnited States
2021Stefano CutrupiItaly
2016Mathias WillemijnsBelgium
2014Beni MeierSwitzerland
2013Tim MathisonUnited States
2012Ron WallaceUnited States
2011Jim and Kelsey BrysonCanada
2010Chris StevensUnited States
2009Christy HarpUnited States
2007Joe JutrasUnited States1,689 lb
2006Ron WallaceUnited States1,502 lb
2005Larry CheckonUnited States1,469 lb
2004Al EatonCanada1,446 lb
2003Steve DaletasUnited States1,385 lb
2002Charlie HoughtonUnited States1,337.6 lb
2001Geneva EmmonsUnited States1,262 lb
2000Dave SteltsUnited States1,140 lb
1999Gerry CheckonUnited States1,131 lb
1998Gary BurkeCanada1,092 lb
1996Nathan and Paula ZehrUnited States1,061 lb
1994Herman BaxCanada990 lb
1993Donald BlackUnited States884 lb
1992Joel HollandUnited States827 lb
1990Ed GancarzUnited States816.5 lb
1989Gordon ThomsonCanada755 lb
1984Norm GallagherUnited States612 lb
1981Howard DillCanada493.5 lb
1980Howard DillCanada459 lb
1976Edgar Van WyckCanada453 lb
1976Bob FordUnited States451 lb
1904William WarnockCanada403 lb
1900William WarnockCanada400 lb

Additionally, in 2022 Ian and Stuart Paton grew a pumpkin weighing —the heaviest ever measured—but it was disqualified due to being damaged.