Growing a Giant Pumpkin in a Huge pile of Homemade Compost

The Giant Pumpkin growth rate has taken off and this fruit is now adding a lot of weight each day. The pumpkin plant is growing in only a huge pile of compost in an experiment to see if it can get everything it needs to grow from only the homemade compost! The compost was made from hundreds of yard waste bags of leaves, some food scraps, plant material and of course, so many coffee grounds for that Nitrogen kick! The daily growth of this pumpkin is clearly visible and we take measurements and show how we estimate the pumpkins weight. It's amazing that all the food and nutrients that this Atlantic Giant Pumpkin plant needs, can be found in our homemade backyard compost. You can see why the rich leaf mold is so great in the organic gardening community.
Follow along as we show this pumpkin grow from Day 8 to Day 63. How big will it be at the end of the growing season?
Planting the seed, compost pile prep: • Growing a Giant Pumpki...
Plant is growing: • Growing a Giant Pumpki...
Pumpkin Pollination Time: • Compost Experiment // ...
Music by www.davidcuttermusic.com

[@sloanmagnum5009]

Nice pumpkin! Its interesting that you grew it in a compost pile. Theres a guy from my church who grew potatoes in a huge pile of old lawn clippings. They grew lots of really big potatoes.

[@ryanhoelke]

It is surprising what a plant can get enough nutrients from.

[@FloridaGirl-]

Had the best tomatos ever from a grass clipping pile I put them in.

[@thedude5599]

First year for me growing a giant pumpkin. August 22 , 2024 my pumpkin weight estimate from measuring is 135 LBS> I still think I have another solid 20 days of growth So im hoping to hit 300 LBS. Not bad for a first timer. My seeds were 1625 GAnsert. Parents 1382 rea 2019 x 1501 Vanderweilen 2017. From Don Langevins 2023 Orange collection seeds.

[@ryanhoelke]

That's a great weight for the first time. You'll learn something every year and improve. I read all of Don's books as a kid when I started growing. Norm Gansert has grown for years and usually likes to grow very orange pumpkins, so the chances are you'll have a nice orange one too, which is always a bonus. I'm growing one again this year in a pile of last year's leaves. I'll be uploading it at the end of the seaso on my other landscape channel, though. Ryan Hoelke Landscape.

[@NanasWorms]

The colour is absolutely splendid! I'm sure you can make a spooky feature out of that dimple at Halloween!

[@JoeDc101]

Appreciate the video. I’m in the early stages of the vine growing big. Check out my pumpkin grow videos if you’d like on my channel. Enjoy seeing tips. I need a pile where the vine and spread out for sure. Thank you

[@funkblack]

I'm thinking to grow one too. I'm also planning to eat it when it's done. Is it tasty?

[@TBUB123]

I grew my 1st giant pumpkin this year(2K24) at the base of my compost heap. It was doing really well till some critters got to the plant and fruit. I’ll reset and try next year but inside a fence

[@MasonR13]

The discoloration look like iron chlorosis. Hot and drought conditions exacerbate the condition. So do highly alkaline soils. Sulfur and chelated iron may help your cause this next growing season 😊

[@ryanhoelke]

Thanks. Appreciate that info.

[@infamos]

So you have to look for any other female flowers and remove them Im guessing

[@ryanhoelke]

Yes, good call. I forgot to mention that. I remove all female flowers after I choose the one to go with.

[@williamworth2746]

Why cover the pumpkin Hail bugs ?? I just got some seeds from a would record holding pumpkin

[@ryanhoelke]

The sun. The sun can cause the pumpkin skin to ripen or harden earlier than you want. So, keeping the blanket on the pumpkin will keep the skin softer, which means less chance of cracking the skin. You want that skin to be able to stretch as the fruit grows.

[@Dead.garden]

Most likely its a dna thing.

[@Heila-li3uy]

Need Calsium

[@ijahdagang6121]

Good looking giant pumpkin...like it...

[@allanjones207]

Looks impressive to me. What was the final weight?

[@ryanhoelke]

Final weight video is up later today.

[@danigarcia3612]

Excelent..thanks for show your experience

[@thepeopleplaceandnaturepod8344]

Splendid content, new subbie here, more power to your channel

[@serdalkaptan]

Amazing growth, and very fast. I love pumpkin plants and their taste. I wish I could find a few seeds of the pumpkin type like yours. Thanks for sharing.

[@ryanhoelke]

Do you eat the pumpkin or the plant?

[@serdalkaptan]

@@ryanhoelke I eat the pumpkin (the main fruit part after peeling the hard skin). Sometimes I cook in a juicy meal along with other veggies. Sometimes I make dessert out of it. Both ways it is very delicious. And the seeds are also very good for health because of their very high zinc (and some other minerals) content.

[@jasonslade1253]

How are you planning on getting it to your front door to scare some kids? Lol

[@ryanhoelke]

I'll probably have to get the skid steer back out. Always a good problem to have.

[@smoothmove7566]

Nice.!!!!! : )

[@douglasthompson9482]

Great job

[@creatorKamakshi333]

Hi

[@MissZ1KCMO]

Good looking pumpkin 🎃

[@OyongAsik_87]

So the whole plant, you let it only 1 Pumpkin grow big?

[@ryanhoelke]

Yes, if you want to grow the largest possible pumpkin, remove all of them except the pumpkin that you want to go with.

[@TheyFearUAwake]

@@ryanhoelkeare you supposed to cut the vines after the pumpkin starts so no more growth goes toward growing longer and more vines?

[@ryanhoelke]

@loranstaley1119 Once you have a pumpkin growing and have the plant as large as you want it to grow, it's fine to cut the ends off the vines if you wish.

[@pXnEmerica]

Nice

[@frankpumpkin2350]

Yellow vine

[@ryanhoelke]

Thanks, I figured it could be.

[@pauldixon2305]

where does one get half a ton of coffee grounds

[@ryanhoelke]

From the local coffee shop, one pot at a time. It adds up.

[@pauldixon2305]

@@ryanhoelke ty for youre response im currently using starbucks but theres competition

[@danmartin9558]

Very impressive pumpkin

[@ryanhoelke]

Thanks Dan.

[@dkielp11]

Where did you get all the coffee grounds from?

[@ryanhoelke]

From a coffee shop. I did a video on the coffee grounds here: ruclips.net/video/TSRyXU_8S5M/видео.html

[@SpotlightShowdown]

Are you selling the seeds

[@ryanhoelke]

I can get you some seeds for free if you cover the postage. Email me [e-mail]