This article is intended for beginner growers, and it includes the basics on how to grow a giant pumpkin.

My 2018 giant pumpkin growing season was a huge improvement from prior years. "Watson”, who was named after the wattage invested in his growth, got second place in the state of Maine at 1521.5 pounds! I discuss what I did differently this year to get this new personal best.

This step-by-step guide shows you how to build a homemade tripod to lift your giant pumpkin. It is a great alternative if you don't own heavy machinery, and it's easy with the use of a chain hoist.

Although I didn't have as good of a season as I expected, I learned a ton that will help me get even bigger pumpkins next year. In this blog I talk about what went right and what went wrong.

Compost tea is a great soil amendment for organic gardeners because it encourages the growth of beneficial microbes. Get step-by-step instructions on how to make your own using a 5 gallon bucket and save money!

It's still April, but my seedlings are already out in their hoop houses and getting heated at night. Read more about my pumpkin babies here.

Read about how I get my soil ready and seeds started for giant pumpkin season.

Some words of wisdom: Free manure isn't free when you overload your trailer and break its axle. Read this amusing story along with some of Sarah's thoughts on the upcoming growing season.

Watch a crazy video of Dale trying to save Sarah's pumpkin during a hail storm.

If you want to grow a world-class giant pumpkin, you should pollinate your plant by hand so you can keep track of its genetics and assure your female flower gets exposed to pollen. See how to do this in a step-by-step guide.

Many giant pumpkin growers use organic methods, but oftentimes you still see pesticide, fungicide, and herbicide use. This is Sarah's take on why she thinks avoiding these chemicals will be more beneficial in the long run.

Read about the beginning of Sarah's 2015 growing season.

Sarah talks about burying vines on her giant pumpkin.

Sarah's seedling developed a stem split because it wasn't hardened off to the wind. Luckily, she was able to make some adjustments to allow it to heal and continue growing like a monster.

Sarah talks about the beginning of her 2015 growing season, from shoveling the snow out of her patch to getting a new place to grow at the Bangor Community Garden.

A summary of Sarah's 2014 growing season from start to finish.