Type
giant pumpkin
Pumpkin variety
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
The standard giant-pumpkin variety for growers interested in maximum size. It needs a long season, rich soil, and plenty of space.
Days to maturity
120
Best for
giant growing, exhibition
About Atlantic Giant
Atlantic Giant is the famous competition variety behind record-setting giant pumpkins, capable of reaching several hundred to well over a thousand pounds under ideal care. It was developed by Nova Scotia grower Howard Dill, and the fruit tends toward a pinkish-orange, sometimes lumpy rind as it swells to enormous size. The flesh is coarse and watery, so this pumpkin is grown for spectacle rather than flavor.
Growing Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
Grow it with a long season, very wide spacing of 10 feet or more per plant, deeply enriched soil, and heavy watering and feeding to fuel rapid growth. Most growers select and keep just one fruit per vine, shade it to prevent skin splitting, and gently manage the vine to protect the fragile stem. Expect a long time to maturity of roughly 120 or more days, and harvest before hard frost.
Full growing guide
For planting dates, care, and harvest that apply to all pumpkins, see the complete guide.
How to grow PumpkinsOther pumpkins varieties
Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.