Howard Dill Enterprises

Howard Dill Enterprises is the Windsor, Nova Scotia farm where the world's largest pumpkin variety was born. Four-time world champion grower Howard Dill developed the Atlantic Giant pumpkin here beginning in the 1960s, and the variety has gone on to break world records around the globe — including pumpkins topping 1,100 kilograms (2,500 pounds). Today the farm, run by the Dill family at 400 College Road on the edge of Windsor, opens its gates each fall so visitors can see record-size pumpkins in the patch, browse the seed shop, and pick up seasonal produce. It is a piece of genuine agricultural history on the Bay of Fundy travel route — the kind of roadside attraction that anchors a whole region's identity, and the reason Windsor proudly calls itself the Pumpkin Capital of Nova Scotia.

The Atlantic Giant story

Howard Dill began growing pumpkins as a serious pursuit in the 1960s, selectively breeding seeds from the largest specimens he could find. By 1979 his strain had produced a pumpkin large enough to claim a Guinness World Record, and the Atlantic Giant has dominated competitive growing ever since. The current world record of 1,278 kilograms (2,818 pounds), set in 2025 by Ian and Stuart Paton of England, traces its lineage directly back to Dill's original seeds. Dill himself won the world championship four times, and his seeds have been shipped to growers in dozens of countries — an improbable export from a small farm in the Annapolis Valley. The farm's own record pumpkins, grown each season in the field beside the house, routinely weigh in at 400 to 600 kilograms and draw a steady stream of curious visitors when they are on display.

Visiting the farm

The farm is a working operation, not a theme park — expect a low-key, authentic farm visit. The main draw in September and October is the giant pumpkin patch, where the season's monsters sit in the field and visitors can pose for photos beside them (the farm's own photos are available once the pumpkins are done growing and out of the patch). There is no charge for admission, and there is no u-pick pumpkin patch or apple orchard — the Dills sell pumpkins, squash, gourds, apples, and other produce in season from the farm, along with seeds, growing books, giftware, and homemade products. Dogs are permitted on a leash, and children are welcome as long as they are supervised. The farm is open daily in October from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; in summer months (May through July) hours are typically Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., expanding to daily from August 1 through October 31.

Seeds, books, and the growing community

Howard Dill Enterprises remains the mail-order headquarters for Atlantic Giant seeds and Howard Dill's how-to books on giant pumpkin growing. Serious growers from across North America order seeds here every spring, and the farm's premium seed lines still carry the Dill name and breeding program. If you have ever wondered how a pumpkin reaches a tonne, the farm shop is the place to ask — the family is happy to talk growing technique, and the seed packets make a memorable souvenir for anyone with a garden. Orders can be placed by phone at (902) 798-2728 or by mail, and the farm's website includes the full seed and book catalogue.

Planning your visit

Howard Dill Enterprises is on College Road (Route 1), roughly five minutes from downtown Windsor and an hour from Halifax via Highway 101. It fits neatly into a Bay of Fundy day trip that also takes in the Fundy Discovery Site in Truro, Burntcoat Head Park, or the town of Windsor's own heritage attractions — including the Fort Edward National Historic Site, home to North America's oldest military blockhouse. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a photo stop and a browse of the shop; on a clear fall day, the drive along the valley to the farm is half the pleasure, with the Minas Basin glinting to the north and the North Mountain rising to the south. Parking is free on site, and the farm is wheelchair accessible. Call ahead or check the website before a visit outside the fall season — the farm keeps limited hours in winter, and catching the family by phone is a matter of chance.