C. maxima 130 days. This pumpkin regularly wins weight competitions around the world and has reached over 2,000 pounds! Can grow to over 200 lbs in a backyard garden. Nova Scotia farmer and pumpkin breeder Howard Dill (1934-2008) who spent 30 years developing 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' pumpkin. He broke a 75-year-old record with his giant 438.5-pound pumpkin in 1978. With Dill's four year streak of world champion giant pumpkins, renewed interest in giant-pumpkin contests led to 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' being used as a parent of every world champion since, according to plant breederÊJim Myers.