Each year, the New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, New York) transforms its Children’s Garden into a Haunted Pumpkin Garden toward the end of September. The children’s emotions—ranging from joy to fright—are about as varied as the number of children who pass through the Haunted Garden each fall.


Haunted Pumpkin Garden


Haunted Pumpkin Garden


“Mine!” (Haunted Pumpkin Garden)


Haunted Pumpkin Garden

In mid-to-late October, just as the last Monarchs are departing, giant pumpkins from all across North America arrive. These pumpkins are Great Atlantic Pumpkins (also known as Atlantic Giant Pumpkins). Some of the behemoths weigh in near or even just above a ton (907 kg). Pumpkins weighing a ton or more are still a fairly recent occurrence. The first such pumpkin was grown in 2012. 2014 witnessed a new world record 2,323.7 lb (1,054 kg) pumpkin grown by Beni Meier of Switzerland.

Growth of these giant pumpkins has become a fairly serious agricultural sport with its own body. Each year, The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC) registers the largest such pumpkins. The list includes the name and location of the grower, the GPC site at which the pumpkin was weighed, the seed (mother), and pollinator (father). For example, Tim Mathison of Napa California (whom I met at this year’s exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden) grew a 2,032 lb (922 kg) pumpkin last year, which set a new world record. That pumpkin’s “mother” was listed as 2009 Wallace and its “father” was 1554 Mathison. Wallace referred to Ronald Wallace, who had grown a 2,009 lb (911 kg) pumpkin in 2012, the first pumpkin weighing in at a ton or more. Mathison referred to Tim Mathison’s 1,554 lb (705 kg) pumpkin from 2011.

Competitive pumpkin growing does not necessarily require extensive experience. Tim Mathison told me that this year was the 6th year his wife and he have been growing such pumpkins. At the same time, he also informed me that he shares his seeds with growing clubs and even gives some of them away to fellow competitive growers.

As enormous as they are, they typically are grown for about 100 days. Some large pumpkins never reach maturity on account of mold that grows underneath them. Transportation can also be challenging and a few such pumpkins have cracked during the long journey to the New York Botanical Garden.


“Doll-Doll,” a 2008 lb (911 kg) pumpkin grown by Bill and Teresa Neptune of New Concord, Ohio

Afterward, some of the pumpkins are carved by such renowned Master Carvers as Ray Villafane, a repeat winner of the Food Network’s “Challenge: Outrageous Pumpkins.”


Carved Pumpkin


Carved Giant Pumpkin


Carved Pumpkin