Big Max Pumpkin Seeds

First developed in Ontario during the late 1800s, Big Max was originally bred for winning giant pumpkin competitions. Farmer William Warnock is credited with having selected the seeds from the biggest pumpkins in his field for many years. In 1893, he won a giant pumpkin competition with a 400-pound specimen, and he was even invited to show his fruit at the Paris World Fair.

Big Max is not a true pumpkin ‘’Cucurbita pepo,’’ it is classified as a squash ‘’Cucurbita Maxima.’’ This variety is not big enough to compete in modern-day giant pumpkin competitions, but will certainly be a standout element in your garden and they make for a huge, awesome Jack O’Lantern. For best results, transplant two to four weeks after the last frost and prepare ample room in the garden. Keeping only one fruit per vine will help the plant focus its energy. Water and fertilize regularly and Big Max will certainly be the talk of your fall garden.

The pumpkins generally reach a weight of 50 lbs but can also grow to well over 100 lbs in the right conditions. Big Max can reach up to 5-6 feet in circumference in the garden and they are noted to be of a rounder shape compared to other giant pumpkin varieties that tend to be very flat on one side. Big Max pumpkins are bright orange with a fine-grained, yellow-orange flesh, excellent for canning or freezing, but with a less pronounced flavour than that of regular pumpkins. The skin is notoriously thick, between 2 and 4 inches, making Big Max an excellent candidate for winter storage.

- Latin Name: Curcubita maxima
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 120
- Planting Depth: 2 cm
- Plant Spacing: 1.5 m
- Row Spacing: 1.5-2 m
- Growth Habit: Vine

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

Pumpkins are the quintessential, if unofficial, icon of autumn. Not only are they the embodiment of the fall, pumpkins are supremely nutritious and can be used in a number of ways. But to have a successful fall crop, vines and fruit must have long, hot seasons with space to spread out.

Sow seeds directly when soil temperatures reach 21°C. Pumpkins won’t tolerate cold. Pick a site with full sun and mix in plenty of compost ahead of planting. The bed should be of rich and well-drained soil, as pumpkins are heavy feeders. Seeds can be planted into small mounds, where the soil will stay warmer and drain well. Plant 4-5 seeds/mound 3 cm deep. Leave 1-2.5 m between mounds. With temperate soil, seeds should germinate in about a week.

When sprouts are 5-8 cm tall, thin to 2 or 3 vines per mound. Pumpkins will require a bit of water, at least 3 cm/week, and more when fruiting. Mulch around the plants to retain water and protect the shallow roots. Be careful not to harm roots when weeding or cultivating. Pruning and pinching the ends of vines are good strategies to concentrate energy into set fruit.

Choose a dry day to harvest. Pumpkins will store best when harvested fully mature. When fruit is deep orange and the skin is thick and firm, use a pair of clippers to cut the pumpkin from the vine. Leave a long stem to increase shelf life. Cure pumpkins for a couple weeks under the sun. After curing, store in a cool dry place, somewhere around 10°C.

Whether you want a canvas to carve spooky faces or bake homemade pies for Thanksgiving, make space for pumpkins in your home garden.

QUICK FACTS

- Native to North America, pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants, having been cultivated as early as 7,500 BC.

- Pumpkin is a popular Halloween and Thanksgiving staple, and a traditional part of the fall harvest.

- Pumpkin seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.