Crops › Giant Pumpkin (Squash) › Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Giant Pumpkin (Squash) in the US
A unique giant, Polar Bear produces huge, ghostly white pumpkins that are quite a spectacle. Perfect for a striking display or for something a bit different from the usual orange.
Sow window for Giant Pumpkin (Squash) generally, zone 6.
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How to grow it
You'll want to sow your giant pumpkin seeds either indoors a few weeks before your last frost date, or directly into the soil once it's properly warmed up. For zones 8 and 9, March or April is usually a good start. In zones 6 and 7, aim for April or May, and for zone 5 folks, May is your best bet. Plant them about an inch deep. If you're sowing indoors, a little pot on the windowsill is fine, then move them to a cold frame if it's still chilly outside before planting out. Make sure the soil is warm enough for direct sowing, that's key.
These plants need loads of space, like I say. Once your indoor seedlings have a few true leaves, harden them off for a week or two before planting them outside after all danger of frost has passed. Give each plant a good 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters) in every direction, honest. They're proper spreaders. You won't be growing these in a pot on the patio, not if you want a giant, anyway!
Full Giant Pumpkin (Squash) guide →
More Giant Pumpkin (Squash) varieties
Track your Giant Pumpkin (Squash) from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
