Once the Russians reached the islands in the 18th century they found a pseudo-etymology from Russian kurit (ÐºÑÑÐ¸ÑÑ - to smoke) due to the continual fumes and steam above the islands from volcanoes.
An early, indoor start - Giant pumpkin plants require 140 days or more from the time you plant a seed, to the time you harvest the fruit. Growers seeking to break the world record, start seeds in mid to late April, and harvest fruit in early October. That means as many as 160 days, from when the seed was planted!
Harvest pumpkins when they are deep orange and have a hard rind. This is usually in late September or early October. Pumpkin vines require a minimum of 50 to 100 square feet of growing space. Plant four or five seeds per hill at a depth of 1 inch. Space the hills 5 to 6 feet apart in rows 10 to 15 feet apart. Dry pumpkins in the sun for about 7 days to harden the skin.