Variety field guide
What to expect from Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkin / winter squash Seeds
Dill's Atlantic Giant is a vigorous, long-vined pumpkin grown for giant-pumpkin projects, fall displays, and exhibitions. Give it a dedicated outdoor patch and a long, warm season.
Open the complete descriptionHide the complete descriptionVariety traits, flavor, garden use, and the complete description
Dill's Atlantic Giant is a vigorous, long-vined pumpkin grown for giant-pumpkin projects, fall displays, and exhibitions. Give it a dedicated outdoor patch and a long, warm season.
Minimum seeds per packet: 20 seeds.
About Dill's Atlantic Giant
Dill's Atlantic Giant is a vigorous, long-vined pumpkin grown for giant-pumpkin projects, fall displays, and exhibitions. Give it a dedicated outdoor patch and a long, warm season. The canopy may stand roughly 19–24 inches above the ground, while the vines spread over a much larger area. Space planting hills 15–20 feet apart and thin to one strong plant per hill. Give the runners a large, dedicated area of open ground; competition growing may require hundreds of square feet per plant. Allow approximately 120–130 days for mature pumpkins, depending on season and growing conditions.
History and provenance
Canadian grower Howard Dill developed Dill's Atlantic Giant through years of selecting giant pumpkins. The variety became central to modern giant-pumpkin growing and competition. Its species, Cucurbita maxima, also includes many other winter squash; those varieties can cross when they flower together.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cucurbita maxima |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | Approximately 120–130 days |
| Germination | 7–10 days at 75–90 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 inch |
| Foliage height | Approximately 19–24 inches; vines spread much farther |
| Hill spacing | 15–20 feet; one plant per hill |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Fertile and well drained; pH 6.5–7.0 |
| Water | High; deep, consistent watering without waterlogging |
| Support | Grow on the ground; plan safe handling for heavy fruit |
Starting Dill's Atlantic Giant from seed
Sow 1 inch deep in warm, moist, well-drained soil after frost danger has passed; germination usually takes 7–10 days at 75–90 °F. For an early start, sow in individual pots about 2–3 weeks before the last frost and transplant young plants carefully. Space planting hills 15–20 feet apart and thin to one strong plant per hill. Give the runners a large, dedicated area of open ground; competition growing may require hundreds of square feet per plant. Provide full sun, fertile soil, and a soil pH near 6.5–7.0. Water deeply and consistently without leaving the soil waterlogged. Protect vines and roots from traffic.
Planting and care
Prepare a generous, fertile planting area before sowing. Space planting hills 15–20 feet apart and thin to one strong plant per hill. Give the runners a large, dedicated area of open ground; competition growing may require hundreds of square feet per plant. Feed according to a soil test and plant growth, and keep moisture even as vines and fruit expand. For maximum-size growing, select one well-set fruit and remove competing fruit. Do not rely on a trellis to hold these pumpkins. Not recommended for ordinary containers or small-space gardens. Use a large outdoor patch with room for spreading vines and very heavy fruit. Keep the fruit on the ground.
Harvest and use
Allow the pumpkin to develop mature color and a firm rind, then cut it from the vine with a sound stem attached. Protect fruit from wet soil. Large fruit requires a planned lifting method; do not lift by the stem. Use for exhibitions and large fall displays. Fruit size varies greatly with care, weather, and genetics.
Saving seed
To save seed, isolate flowering plants from other Cucurbita maxima varieties or use controlled hand pollination and label the protected fruit. Let selected pumpkins mature fully, then extract, clean, and dry sound seed thoroughly. Keep records of parentage and growing conditions. Use several representative plants when maintaining a population.
Common problems
Watch Dill's Atlantic Giant for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow it in a container? Not recommended for ordinary containers or small-space gardens. Use a large outdoor patch with room for spreading vines and very heavy fruit. Keep the fruit on the ground.
How much room does it need? Space planting hills 15–20 feet apart and thin to one strong plant per hill. Give the runners a large, dedicated area of open ground; competition growing may require hundreds of square feet per plant.
When will it mature? Allow approximately 120–130 days for mature pumpkins, depending on season and growing conditions.
Will every seed grow a record pumpkin? No. The variety has giant-fruit potential, but final weight depends strongly on genetics, space, growing conditions, and care.
Can I save seed? To save seed, isolate flowering plants from other Cucurbita maxima varieties or use controlled hand pollination and label the protected fruit. Let selected pumpkins mature fully, then extract, clean, and dry sound seed thoroughly. Keep records of parentage and growing conditions. Use several representative plants when maintaining a population.
