Squash : Dill's Atlantic Giant

Vegetable

• Crops in : 120 Days
• Ideal for : Children

Description

Trailing. Using Pumpkin Dill's Atlantic Giant growers have produced monster pumpkins weighing over 600 lbs, and it holds the Canadian and American records for size and weight. Even if you don't want to produce a 'record breaker', Pumpkin Dill's Atlantic Giant is excellent for delicious long standing pumpkins for pies, carving Jack O'Lanterns, etc.

Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.

Sowing Instructions

Sow seeds mid spring singly 6mm (¼in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of good compost. Germination usually takes 3-12 days at 20-24C (70-75F). Grow in warm, well lit conditions, and keep well fed.

Growing Instructions

Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft) apart when the weather is warm in a warm sheltered spot in full sun and rich soil which has had plenty of well rotted compost dug in.

Aftercare

For Exhibition Pumpkins, plant 2-4m (8ft) or more apart. Pollinating the flowers is helpful. Allow only 3 pumpkins per plant and finally single out to leave the best. Water liberally and feed regularly, placing a tile under the fruit to keep it clear of the soil. In autumn lift the pumpkin with some vine attached and leave in a sunny spot sheltered from rain to ripen off completely. Better results can be achieved by growing in a cold frame, spray daily and keep well ventilated until late June when the cold frame cover can be removed entirely.

Nutritional Information

Pumpkins and winter squashes are a good source of Vitamins B1 and E and are also high in antioxidant levels.