Cucurbita maxima. 120 days. Open-pollinated.
Big Max is an open-pollinated pumpkin variety that is a favorite of home gardeners due to its large, handsome fruits that make impressive Thanksgiving and Halloween decorations.
Vigorous vines produce round (and sometimes flattened), bright orange fruits that average a whopping 100 pounds, making them an excellent candidate for carving into jack-o-lanterns.
The fruit's pink-orange, fine-grained flesh is perfect for pumpkin pies (lots of pies!), canning (lots of cans!), and soups (you guessed it—lots of soup!).
Big Max Pumpkin
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones:
3 to 12
Light Requirement:
Full sun
Soil Type:
Loose, loamy, well drained
Sow Depth:
1 inch
Plant Spacing:
8 to 10 feet apart in rows 10 to 12 feet apart
Germination Temp:
70°F to 85°F
Germination Time:
5 to 10 days
Maturation:
120 days
Growing Tips
If starting indoors, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in small, individual peat post, 2 seeds per pot. Thin to the strongest plant once the seedlings have developed their first set of true leaves. Transplant outdoors once soil temperatures are 60°F or higher by planting the seedlings in a location with full sun and rich soil. Space plants 8 to 10 feet apart in rows 10 to 12 feet apart.
