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British Columbia, Canada

With the season coming to an end, I would like to say thank you to Howard Dill for his contributions towards the sport of giant pumpkin growing.

Howard spent 30+ years creating the Atlantic Giant that we all grow today. Every world class giant pumpkin grown this year had its origins in Mr. Dill's pumpkin patch.

Thank you Howard! You will always be remembered and missed.

10/24/2013 2:10:32 AM

Rhode Island

amen to that. he sure was one of the great ones of our time.a true gentleman as well.
pap

10/24/2013 8:23:21 AM

ShagHarbour n,s canada

pap have you ever made a trip to nova scotia to see the howard dill farm ? its quite the place for giant pumpkin growers

10/24/2013 8:34:14 AM

BC, Canada

While on the subject of Howard Dill and Atlantic Giants;
Do we know what varieties Howard started with? I have often wondered and thought it would be fun to know the trials (and errors) he went through to accomplish what he did. Is this documented anywhere, at the Dill Farm maybe? And since Howard's time have more varieties been added in the mix by the major name growers like the Wallaces or others?
I think for many of us that have grown food varieties over the years this would be interesting and fun to know.
About ten years ago I had a field pumpkin, Big Max it was called, go over a 100 lbs, and that is what got me interested.
Thanks for all the info you people do put here on this site,
Michael
foot note reference #2 in this link is a fun read ;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Max

10/24/2013 12:34:08 PM

Parker, Co

If it wasn't for Howard Dill, we probably would not be responding to this thread. I doubt very seriously if the pumpkin growing achievements would be as great as they are today without him. Howard was a true gentleman. He took a day out of his busy schedule to show us around beautiful Nova Scotia. We miss you, Howard
Pete and Cindi

10/24/2013 1:03:14 PM

http://www.sngpg.com/ag_history.aspx

This link will give you the history of the giant pumpkins.

10/24/2013 2:24:47 PM

Nottingham, UK

Great link spudder, thanks!

10/24/2013 5:38:19 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

This subject is kind of sacred to me, however it should be noted that Howard Dill patented the seeds used to grow his giant pumpkin in 1981, thus the creation of Dill’s Atlantic Giant seeds. Howard Dill is also credited for all of the giant pumpkins today, most of which came from crossing and re-crossing his seed with other seeds. The names of Ford, Lamelle and Gancarz should not be forgotten, although Howard is properly considered the Godfather of the Atlantic giant.

10/24/2013 9:47:17 PM

BC, Canada

Great thread here
Spudder thanks for that link, very good article. Now I just need to find a 322.5 Roel 06 seed, that's 1906!
Yes, Howard Dill really got it going.

10/25/2013 2:58:16 AM

Ankeny, Iowa

That was a cool article. Thanks spudder.

10/27/2013 12:53:43 AM

Rhode Island

when i think about my time in the hobby (1989 to present) the people that come to mind as being those that really took the hobby/sport from a small little known interest to todays world wide presence are

howard dill ----- for genetics and marketing of seeds
ray waterman ----- for promoting the hobby around the world

obviously there have been many great men and women who have had a hand in what we enjoy today however --- back in the day howard and ray were the grease that kept the wheels turning.

pap

10/27/2013 10:46:57 AM

Rhode Island

and after howard and ray started to pull into port?

organizations namely the great pumpkin commonwealth and big pumpkins.com took it full circle around the world.

lets not also forget those special growers who were always there to help and support the hobby.

10/28/2013 5:38:53 PM