{"id":693258,"date":"2025-10-06T06:10:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T03:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pumpkin-with-help-from-science\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T06:10:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T03:10:12","slug":"how-to-grow-a-giant-pumpkin-with-help-from-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pumpkin-with-help-from-science\/","title":{"rendered":"How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29bb107d927\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29bb107d927\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pumpkin-with-help-from-science\/#How_to_grow_a_giant_pumpkin\" >How to grow a giant pumpkin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pumpkin-with-help-from-science\/#Can_giant_pumpkins_grow_forever\" >Can giant pumpkins grow forever?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu.jpg\" alt=\"How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science\" title=\"Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his W<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The pumpkin in Tony Scott&#8217;s backyard weighs almost as much as a small car.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s been tending to it for months, feeding it fertilizer and covering it with a blanket at night to keep it at a stable temperature. A roll of measuring tape wrapped around the pumpkin gives him a rough estimate of its size.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve never seen anything grow this fast,&#8221; said Scott, a semiconductor engineer from upstate New York.<\/p>\n<p>Every year, growers like Scott push their pumpkins to the limit. They compete in annual weigh-offs with colossal fruits that are well over 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). Scott&#8217;s pumpkin took third place this year, coming in at 1,931 pounds (876 kilograms).<\/p>\n<p>Pumpkins aren&#8217;t the only crops that can get giant. Other members of the gourd family like squashes, cucumbers and watermelons are capable of a similar feat. But the orange behemoths are especially massive and have earned a place of honor at fall festivals and Halloween fairs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_grow_a_giant_pumpkin\"><\/span>How to grow a giant pumpkin<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A giant pumpkin starts off as the perfect seed. Growers choose seeds that have yielded large pumpkins in the past or test new ones. Scott and many other growers rely on the tried-and-true Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Tony Scott's pumpkin sits in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-1.jpg\" alt=\"How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science\" title=\"Tony Scott's pumpkin sits in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Tony Scott&#8217;s pumpkin sits in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>After that, it comes down to the right combination of water, nutrients and care.<\/p>\n<p>Giant pumpkins can guzzle hundreds of gallons of water in a day and make their own food from sunlight just like regular-sized plants do. Their internal plumbing system is more robust, allowing them to drink up sugary water and nutrients faster.<\/p>\n<p>As the leafy patch begins to expand, growers remove smaller pumpkins so all the water and nutrients funnel into a single fruit.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That helps make it extra big in a way that you might not see in the wild,&#8221; said Aleca Borsuk, a plant scientist at the New York Botanical Garden.<\/p>\n<p>Because of gravity, giant pumpkins grow wide but not tall. They often resemble lopsided, lumpy pancakes. Scott&#8217;s pumpkin is also lighter in color because he covers it with a tarp during the day, protecting it from sunlight which can ripen and harden the skin. He waters it using an overhead sprinkler system.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"article-gallery js-article-gallery\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-2.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"A measuring tape encircles Tony Scott's pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-2.jpg\" alt=\"How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-low-up text-truncate mt-3\">\n                    A measuring tape encircles Tony Scott&#8217;s pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-3.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu-3.jpg\" alt=\"How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-low-up text-truncate mt-3\">\n                    Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_giant_pumpkins_grow_forever\"><\/span>Can giant pumpkins grow forever?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;The answer is no,&#8221; Borsuk said. No matter how big a pumpkin gets, it&#8217;ll eventually mature and its natural aging cycle will kick in.<\/p>\n<p>Scott has nurtured giant pumpkins for eight years. It still blows his mind watching them inflate, putting on around 40 pounds to 50 pounds (18 kilograms to 23 kilograms) a day. He sets up reflective panels and even a fake wolf cutout to ward off hungry deer and other intruders looking for an orange-colored snack. Woodchucks have nibbled on the pumpkin&#8217;s vines in previous years.<\/p>\n<p>After the all-important weighing competition, Scott shows off the giant pumpkin at various themed events and drives it around on a trailer. Eventually, he donates it to be displayed or carved.<\/p>\n<p>On the way to events, he often gets stopped by people who ask what he&#8217;s got in the back.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The first question they ask is, &#8216;Is it real?'&#8221; Scott said. &#8220;Where would you buy a fake pumpkin this big?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \u00a9 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a> (2025, October 5)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 5 October 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-10-giant-pumpkin-science.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-10-giant-pumpkin-science.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo\/Shelby Lum The pumpkin in Tony Scott&#8217;s backyard weighs almost as much as a small car. He&#8217;s been tending to it for months, feeding it fertilizer and covering it with a blanket at night to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":693259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/how-to-grow-a-giant-pu.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-693258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=693258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/693259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=693258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=693258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=693258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}