Atlantic Giant facts for kids
The Atlantic Giant is a super-sized type of pumpkin. These amazing pumpkins are famous for growing incredibly huge. Some can be wider than 6 feet (1.8 m) (about 1.8 meters) across! The biggest Atlantic Giant ever grown weighed 2,624 pounds (about 1,190 kilograms). That's heavier than a small car!
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What Makes Atlantic Giants So Big?
Atlantic Giant pumpkins are a special kind of plant. They are bred to grow very, very large. This isn't just luck; it's because of careful plant breeding.
The Story of Howard Dill
The Atlantic Giant pumpkin was created by a farmer named Howard Dill. He lived in Nova Scotia, Canada. Howard Dill spent many years working with pumpkins. He wanted to grow the biggest pumpkin possible.
How Howard Dill Created the Giant
Howard Dill started by picking pumpkins that were already quite large. He would then save their seeds. He planted these seeds the next year. Over many years, he kept choosing the biggest pumpkins. This process is called selective breeding. It helped him create the super-sized Atlantic Giant. In 1978, he officially named his special pumpkin. He even got a patent for it!
How Giant Pumpkins Grow So Large
Growing an Atlantic Giant pumpkin takes a lot of work. It's like training an athlete!
The Right Environment
Giant pumpkins need lots of sunshine. They also need plenty of space to spread out. Their vines can grow very long.
Special Care and Feeding
- Nutrients: Growers give them special plant food. This food is full of nutrients. These nutrients help the pumpkin grow quickly.
- Water: They need a lot of water every day. This helps them get big and heavy.
- Pruning: Growers often trim the vines. This helps the plant focus all its energy. All that energy goes into growing just one or two pumpkins.
- Protection: Sometimes, growers protect the pumpkins from too much sun. They might use a sheet or umbrella. This keeps the skin from getting tough or cracking.
Giant Pumpkin Contests
Many people grow Atlantic Giant pumpkins for fun. They also grow them for contests! These contests are held all over the world.
Weigh-Off Events
At these events, pumpkins are weighed. Special scales are used for these huge vegetables. The pumpkin that weighs the most wins! People come from everywhere to see these amazing giants.
World Records
Each year, growers try to break the world record. The heaviest pumpkin ever grown was an Atlantic Giant. It weighed 2,624 pounds (1,190.5 kg). This record was set in 2016 by Mathias Willemijns in Germany.
What Are Giant Pumpkins Used For?
Besides contests, Atlantic Giant pumpkins have other uses.
- Decorations: They make amazing decorations for Halloween and fall festivals.
- Carving: Their large size makes them perfect for carving huge jack-o'-lanterns.
- Seeds: The seeds from giant pumpkins are often saved. They are then planted again the next year. This helps grow even bigger pumpkins!
Images for kids
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A giant pumpkin being grown in Japan
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Giant pumpkins in Howard Dill's Nova Scotia patch, 2004
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Pumpkin at the Auburn Community Festival
