I used a Gardener Supply Self watering container. The kind they market with their Tomato Success Kit. I chose it over the EarthBox because the GS unit had a 4 gallon reservoir and the EB a 3 gal reservoir. Both units hold 2 cubic feet of mix.

I believe I used the 5-1-1 mix, but with 2 parts peat as the bark I had on hand wasn't at all composted and I wanted to make sure the water wicked efficiently.

A couple notes: Don't be afraid to fertilize heavily. They will consume a boggling amount of nutrients. I honestly don't think keeping the reservoir filled with a full strength dilution of a water soluble fert would be overkill.

If you choose to incorporate dry fert into the mix rather than use a soluble in the reservoir then pay attention to the oldest leaves as the vine grows. If they start to yellow and die off, start using a water soluble in the reservoir in addition to the dry fert in the mix.

A 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer such as MG 24-8-16 or DynaGro Foliage Pro 9-3-6 is perfect for pumpkins.

Also, I don't know how you feel about pesticides, but keep an eye out for squash vine borers which can kill the entire plant (their larvae do, the adult is harmless, but needs to die before laying eggs), stink bugs and cucumber beetle, both of which will wreak havoc as well. They will chew up the leaves, but will also chew into the pumpkin itself. The cuke beetles will also eat the inside of flowers. I am pretty reserved when it comes to using pesticides, but in the case of the AG, I won't lie... I nuked it and kept it nuked. Too many nasties that find it tasty.

Don't bother using the seeds for roasting, they are too large and fibrous so aren't very good.

This will be a blast for the kids. With just a little luck they will have the biggest Jack O' Lantern in the neighborhood come Halloween.

Lastly, you need to be prepared for a vine of at least 20' with a 5' width. That's pretty much the minimum. I generally let them grow until they have a viable fruit set and then chop the vine off at 20'. If you have the room, let it go longer. Be patient waiting for a viable fruit. It takes a long time.

Oh, one last thing, don't assume you have a pollinated fruit just because it's the size of a softball or even basketball. Until it starts to turn color you won't know for sure. Non pollinated female flowers can make some really large 'fakes' before they abort.

Have fun and post some pics along the way or at least harvest time.

Sorry, forgot one tip:

Once you have a viable pumpkin, you need to make a choice.

You either need to leave it sitting blossom end down or you need to carefully(over the course a a few days) lay it on it's side.

The problem is that the vines get large and heavy and send anchor roots into the ground. If the fruit is left blossom end down there is a risk of the growing fruit breaking the vine or snapping it's stem as it pushes it upward off the ground.

If you choose to lay it on it's side this won't be as much of an issue, but you run the risk of breaking the stem if you try to move it's position too quickly.

In any event it's a good idea to take a knife and sever those anchor roots that are near the fruit to reduce the risk of these giants damaging the vine or their stem. Once you have a viable fruit it's not exaggerating to say you may see 1" of growth on the fruit per day. They are just amazing. You are going to have a blast with this.

Thank you! Those are great tips, particularly about the anchor root, since I am not familiar with this at all.

I'll probably make an EarthTainer, as I already have one 33 gallon tote on hand, so I'll only need another (and the rest of the supplies, of course). I tend to prefer water soluble ferts over dry ferts, (I use the MG 24-8-16) so I will use that in the reservoir. I've got an entire side of my embankment set aside for this puppy, so it has plenty of room to sprawl. I just have to keep the critters away from it.

Do you hand pollinate at all, or do you just wait to see if it gets pollinated?

I don't hand pollinate, but you will likely be tempted to. If you are out in the morning and see the bees buzzing, all is well.