Portly Pumpkins

Like Tobeck, growers typically start growing their seeds—varieties of Dill’s Atlantic Giant—in April, indoors. After the threat of spring frosts pass, growers transplant the plants into greenhouses outdoors, where they grow long and branching vines. At the end of June, the growers pollinate pumpkin flowers to start the gourds growing. The pumpkins put on the pounds—as much as 50 per day—in July and August. Most weigh-offs are in September or October, and getting the pumpkins to the contest takes a forklift and a truck—sometimes even a trailer!

Growers typically plant their seeds indoors beginning in April. They keep them inside at first to protect them from the threat of spring frosts. When it gets warmer, growers move the plants into greenhouses outdoors. There, they start to grow long and branching vines.

At the end of June, the growers pollinate the pumpkin flowers. That causes the plant to start growing the giant gourds. In July and August, the pumpkins put on as much as 50 pounds per day. Transporting a giant pumpkin to a weigh-off in September or October takes a forklift and a truck!

After the weigh-off, Tobeck sells most of her pumpkins to carvers but always hollows out one into a boat for a race called a pumpkin regatta. Racing a huge pumpkin “feels a little bit like trying to paddle an aircraft carrier through the lake,” she says.

When pumpkin season ends, “it’s a little disappointing,” says Henry Swenson, 18, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, who has been growing giant pumpkins since he was 14. His pumpkin took 18th place at the Topsfield Fair weigh-off in 2019. But as one season ends, the next begins.

 “You have to get the patch ready for the spring, so I do a lot of prep stuff in the fall,” Swenson says. “You’re kind of always thinking about it.”

After a contest, Tobeck sells most of her pumpkins to carvers. But she always saves one for a special event. She hollows out the giant gourd and uses it as a boat for a race called a pumpkin regatta. Racing a huge pumpkin “feels a little bit like trying to paddle an aircraft carrier through the lake,” she says.

When pumpkin season ends, “it’s a little disappointing,” says Henry Swenson. The 18-year-old lives in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He has been growing giant pumpkins since he was 14. His pumpkin took 18th place at the Topsfield Fair weigh-off in 2019.

But as one season ends, the next one is already starting. “You have to get the patch ready for the spring, so I do a lot of prep stuff in the fall,” Swenson says. “You’re kind of always thinking about it.”