Big Max Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

Seeds per packet ~ 25

Germination 90% Packed for 2024

The Big Max Pumpkin is a giant pumpkin cultivar known for its impressive size, with bright orange skin and fine-grained, yellow-orange flesh. These pumpkins can often reach over 100 pounds and have a more rounded shape compared to other giant pumpkin varieties, making them not only a showstopper at contests but also suitable for culinary uses.

They are easier to grow compared to many other large pumpkin varieties and are known for their bright red-orange skin and nice shape, which tends to be less blob-like. Big Max pumpkins are perfect for making a variety of fall dishes due to their semi-sweet flavor and large size, including traditional pumpkin pies, soups, and casseroles. They can also be stored for several months if kept in a cool, dry place, thanks to their thick rind.

These seeds are capable of growing massive pumpkins, typically ranging from 20 to 50 pounds, but sometimes reaching up to an astonishing 300 pounds under ideal conditions. Big Max pumpkins, part of the Cucurbita maxima species, can exceed 150 pounds under ideal conditions. They're typically bright orange with a deeply ribbed and slightly roughened skin that can be 3 to 4 inches thick, aiding in their storage capability. The flesh is described as good for canning and freezing, although its large size may make culinary use cumbersome, and it lacks the flavor and texture of smaller pumpkin varieties. This variety was hybridized primarily for its size during the early 1960s, with specimens as large as 300 pounds having been grown. For best results, Big Max pumpkins should be planted after the last frost and need ample room to grow, with each vine limited to one fruit to achieve maximum size. They become ripe 110 to 120 days after sowing and should be harvested before the first light frost.

For those interested in growing Big Max pumpkins, it's recommended to plant the seeds at a depth of ½ to 1 inch in warm, rich soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.6. Germination typically takes 7 to 10 days, requiring high levels of nutrients and consistent watering. The plants should be thinned to 2 to 3 per group once seedlings are 1 to 2 inches high, and weeds should be controlled throughout the growing season. Big Max pumpkins are harvested once the rind turns a deep orange color and is firm to the touch, ideally before any hard frosts