VegetablePumpkin
Mammoth Gold Pumpkin
Mammoth Gold Pumpkin is a giant-fruited winter squash that has been documented since 1883, producing substantial harvests of golden orange pumpkins weighing 40 to 60 pounds, though exceptional specimens can exceed 100 pounds. Growing in 110 to 119 days, this Cucurbita maxima variety thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 13 and demands full sun and consistent spacing of 24 inches between plants. The thick pale orange flesh and remarkably smooth surface make it equally at home in a jack-o'-lantern display or as a culinary ingredient, backed by excellent resistance to both powdery and downy mildews.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Rich
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
These are genuinely enormous pumpkins with a surprisingly refined appearance: smooth skin that carves cleanly and flesh so thick it's almost meaty. The disease resistance to powdery and downy mildews gives you a real advantage if fungal problems plague your region. A single plant can supply enough fruit to carve multiple jack-o'-lanterns or feed a family through fall and winter, making it one of the most rewarding vegetable investments a gardener can make.
Common Uses
Mammoth Gold shines in carving and jack-o'-lantern displays, where its smooth surface and generous size make it a showstopper. The thick pale orange flesh also works in the kitchen for roasting, purees, soups, and traditional pumpkin pies. A single fruit yields enough volume for multiple preparations, making it economical for anyone looking to preserve pumpkin through the winter months.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in hills or mounds spaced 24 inches apart. Seeds typically germinate in 7 to 10 days.
Harvesting
Harvest when fruits have reached full size (40 to 60 pounds, or larger) and the skin has hardened to a deep golden orange color. The skin should resist puncture when pressed firmly with a fingernail. Leave a 3 to 4 inch stem attached when cutting from the vine. Harvest before the first hard frost, as frost will damage the fruit and shorten storage life. For the longest storage, cure freshly harvested pumpkins in a warm, well-ventilated space (70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 to 14 days to harden the skin further.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita maxima
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Mammoth Gold first appeared in documented seed catalogs in 1883, a marker of its longevity and value to American gardeners. At a time when pumpkin breeding focused on size and storage potential for winter use, this variety was singled out and preserved because it delivered on both counts. Its presence in records from that era speaks to how gardeners recognized something worthwhile and chose to keep growing it across generations.”