Engel's Great Pumpkins and Carvings

05/25/2026

Shannon Engel Planted the Dunn County Jail Pumpkin and Squash and then watered them in well with two gallons each of this special fertilizer, and bam two days later we have the area filled in and a pumpkin and squash set. 🤣

05/22/2026

A quick reminder for new growers: the word “-cide” means “to kill.”
Whether an insecticide is labeled organic, natural, or synthetic, its job is the same — to kill insects. The real differences are how they work, how long they last, and how often you need to apply them.

🌿 Organic Insecticides
Organic doesn’t mean harmless. Most organic products are broad‑spectrum, meaning they kill good insects (bees, ladybugs, lacewings) right along with pests.
They also break down quickly, so they must be applied every few days and after every rain.

💦 Contact Insecticides
Contacts only work when they touch the insect.
They don’t move inside the plant, and rain or sunlight breaks them down fast.
Expect to reapply weekly or more during heavy pressure.

🌱 Systemic Insecticides
Systemics — like Imidacloprid — are absorbed through the roots and move into the plant’s tissues.
They target chewing and sucking insects and can provide weeks of protection from a single early‑season application.
Timing matters: systemics should be used before bloom to avoid exposing pollinators.

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All insecticides have trade‑offs. The goal is smart timing, minimal spraying, and protecting beneficial insects while keeping your plants healthy.

05/19/2026

Yes, We have made the draft and were picked in the 1st round to carve pumpkins October 16th, 17th and 18th at Titletownfor the Green Bay Packers

Jodi Vasey Engel
https://www.packers.com/photos/packers-fans-carve-pumpkins-at-titletown -89f7-4afe-8b99-eab5ca2cd7ec

The free, family fall extravaganza Pumpkin Palooza took over Titletown on Oct. 12-13. Visitors were able to carve pumpkins to help create a one-of-a-kind pumpkin spectacle that will remain on display at Titletown this fall.

05/17/2026

How to stake your pumpkin vine to the ground, using a plastic coat hanger.

04/18/2026

It's alive. 24 hrs and the Cotyledons are up. Watch the pot expand and contract when the air warms and cools.

04/18/2026

It is germination time :)

04/11/2026

Here is a seed starting tip. Before we had a thermostatically controlled grow tent, seeds were started in the oven with just the oven light on, which maintains a consistent temperature of around 85 degrees. Place a note on the oven to inform others.

04/04/2026

Let's talk about Pollination. Pollination of a giant pumpkin does not affect the size, shape, or color of the current year's fruit because the fruit itself is developed from the maternal plant's tissue, while the pollen only impacts the genetics of the seeds inside. This separation of fruit development and seed fertilization ensures that the pumpkin’s physical characteristics are determined solely by the mother plant’s genetics and environmental factors.

So basically unless your are planting the seeds next year you can pollinate with any C. Maxima.

03/23/2026

Growing Season is almost here! Get your big and orange pumpkin seeds right here. Most seeds are 2 for $15
https://gr8pumpkin.net/shop/

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01/18/2026

What is the Howard Dill Award and how do you win one?

The Howard Dill Award is one of the most distinguished honors in competitive giant pumpkin growing. Named in recognition of Howard Dill (1934–2008), the renowned Canadian grower from Windsor, Nova Scotia, the award celebrates the legacy of the individual widely regarded as the *Father of Giant Pumpkin Growing*. Dill’s development and patenting of the Dill’s Atlantic Giant variety in the late 1970s transformed the sport, enabling growers around the world to cultivate pumpkins of unprecedented size—today often exceeding 2,000 pounds.

Sanctioned by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC), the Howard Dill Award recognizes the most visually exceptional Atlantic Giant pumpkin exhibited at certified weigh‑offs. Unlike awards based solely on weight, this honor emphasizes aesthetic excellence and celebrates the classic, iconic pumpkin form.

Key Criteria for Consideration

**Color** — A rich, vibrant, and uniform deep orange—often described as “big, beautiful orange”—is the hallmark of a top contender.

**Symmetry** — Ideal specimens display balanced proportions, clean lines, and well‑defined ribbing, free from major flaws or deformities.

**Size** — While beauty is the primary focus, most sites maintain a minimum weight requirement of approximately 500 pounds, though smaller or more challenging venues may adjust this threshold.

Judging Process

Evaluation may be conducted through:

- **Peer voting**, in which each participating grower casts a single vote (including for their own entry, if eligible), or
- **Official judging**, performed by designated event officials.

Ultimately, the Howard Dill Award honors the pumpkin that best embodies the classic, aesthetically superior Atlantic Giant—large, symmetrical, and strikingly beautiful—reflecting the qualities Howard Dill championed throughout his career.

Growers frequently attribute success in this category to specific genetic lines known for producing exceptional color and form. Many breeders intentionally select and cross plants to enhance these traits, resulting in seed families that consistently yield pumpkins with the visual qualities favored in Howard Dill Award competition. As a result, many winning entries trace their lineage to well‑established “orange lines” cultivated by growers who prioritize appearance alongside size.

www.gr8pumpkin.net