You may not be out to a win national prize, but you can easily have the biggest pumpkins on the block come Halloween.
Some pumpkin varieties, such as Atlantic Giant and Prizewinner, are favorites among the giant growers, but it’s not so much the variety as the growing method that produces really big pumpkins.
You’ll need to start with the basics: a sunny spot, fertile soil with good drainage, and plenty of water. The largest pumpkins are produced when the fruit doesn’t have competition for nutrients, so start by leaving only two main stems on the plant. Once the fruit starts to swell, remove all but one from each stem. Fertilize regularly once the flowers appear, and keep the plant well watered.
To encourage more root development, which in turn encourages the plant to take in more water and nutrients, create a 4-inch-wide hill every couple of feet along the length of each stem so the vine can root.
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