Plant Now, Drop Later: Wyoming Pumpkin King Shares His Super Pumpkin Seeds

Worland’s Jay Richard, known as Wyoming’s Pumpkin King, planted his giant pumpkin seeds on April 6, and they have already sprouted. But he says it is definitely not too late for other gardeners to join in—and he has just the seeds for the job. Three hundred to 400 of his specially bred giant pumpkin seeds are available online at Generous Roots Garden Company as part of a fundraiser for the Worland Community Garden.

Lucky customers might score seeds from “Leather Tuscadero,” a pumpkin that weighed 1,399 pounds and won the 2023 Wyoming State Championship Weigh-Off and Giant Pumpkin Drop in Worland. “All the seeds are out of my pumpkins that I’ve grown in past years,” Richard said. “I like to donate the seeds because it’s fun to watch people get excited about growing these giant pumpkins.”

According to Janet Hofmann of the Washakie County Conservation District, giant Atlantic pumpkin seeds can go for $5 to $10 each, especially proven genetics like Richard’s. They are being sold online for a special deal of two for $7. The fundraiser supports the community garden, which produced an estimated five tons of food last year, all donated to people in need. “Our goal is to be sustainable with our seed company so that we’re not always asking for money from foundations,” Hofmann said.

Dr. Caitlin Youngquist, a former conservation district director who helped start the seed company, said Richard’s genetics are amazing. “You can barely stop them from growing, even with some benign neglect,” she said. “Of course, with a lot of extra inputs and care, they’ll get giant.” She emphasized that selling giant pumpkin seeds is a fun way to get people into gardening and growing food.

The Generous Roots Garden Company offers seeds pre-selected for Wyoming’s climate. New varieties tailored to the high plains have been added this year, along with a “small spaces collection” for raised beds or pots. A winter squash trio packs three different squash varieties into one packet.

Richard said giant pumpkin seeds can be grown as regular plants or, like him, pushed for record-breaking size. “You can just drop them in and water them and hang on,” he said. “If you want to push them and realize what their potential is, you’ve got to do a lot of extra things to them.” He suggests visiting specialized websites for advice and encourages anyone who grows a giant pumpkin to bring it to Worland in October for the annual great pumpkin smash. “I just would like to wish everybody a great early season,” he said.