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San Marcos, CA

Hi!

I am interested in growing giant pumpkins next year but I'm not sure about the type I should grow. I live in Southern California, about 15 miles from the beach in north San Diego County. Gardening zone 21. I have grown regular pumpkins successfully for the past 5 years. Can I grow the Atlantic seeds this close to the Pacific!!!! Maybe it's just a name and it doesn't matter! Just the same, I don't see any email from California growers! Thanks for educating me in this area of pumpkin growing!
Robin

10/24/2000 4:46:17 PM

Roanoke Il

robin alot of big pumpkins are grown in californa. The only probiem is the heat if it is to hot it will stress your plants. but if you have grown pumpkins already you should not have a problem.You may have to set up a misting system for the hot days of summer. best of luck mark

10/24/2000 8:04:14 PM

Chester Co., PA

There are several S. California die hards on this site. Some of us live too far inland and should probably give up but growers near the coast do very well. I live in Chino Hills and we can get an early start but when the temperatures start getting over 90 degrees everyday the pumpkins stop gaining weight, turn orange, and ripen. Grower 'Stew' in Lake Elsinore went over 500 lbs. this year, see his pictures in Growers Diaries section. Growers near Santa Barbara do well also, see 'plumpkin' & 'bowlboy'. I have grown Dill Atlantic, Prize Winner, Big Max and Big Moon pumpkins. Personal best was a 285 lb. Big Moon, but that is about the heaviest Big Moon can get. Dill Atlantics can get 4 times that. I am familiar with the Vista-San Marcos-Escondido climate, with lots of TLC a 400 - 500 lb fruit should be possible. You have to try or you won't have anything next year. There is a lot of luck involved so get one in the ground and maybe 2001 will be the perfect year in S. Cal. If nothing else you'll get hooked. Also, check out grower 'water' he is near Huntington Beach.

10/25/2000 6:34:23 PM

Midway City, California

Hi,

Yes you can grow Giant Pumpkins in Southern Calif. I have been growing them for two years. My first year I grew one to about 300lbs. This year I grew one estimated at 400 lbs.

I live in Huntington Beach about 100 miles above you and 6 miles inland.

A few years ago another grower grew one around 1000lbs (not sure of the exact weight)

12/5/2000 12:19:09 PM