Growing the Big One

Emma Silver moves from New York City to Seattle to advance her radio career. The big city life is a contrast to her roots, and she begins to settle into a new routine. This relocation will be the calm before the storm of family obligations she will soon face.

Hearing of her grandfather Walt's death, Emma returns to Valleyville to attend to his affairs. She meets attorney Bobby Ellis who informs her she inherited Walt's farm and his pumpkin seeds. Walt's last letter urges Emma to find someone to help take care of the farm. This discovery sets her on the path toward entering the local pumpkin contest.

Mayor Kyle Finster informs Emma that the town intends to develop the land after foreclosure. Emma is dismayed by the possibility of losing Walt's farm and the life it represents. The development threat creates an early conflict between preserving family legacy and town expansion.

Emma is replaced by a younger radio host and reassigned to a gardening program that she must broadcast via webcams from Walt's farmhouse. Her first broadcast is a disaster due to her lack of farming knowledge. The Pumpkin Widows begin to mentor her and help her connect with the community.

A group of neighbors known as the Pumpkin Widows teach Emma about pumpkin growing and Walt's habit of singing The Yankee Doodle Boy to his seeds. They share stories of his dedication and the quirks of running a farm with community support. A video of Emma with the Widows serenading the seeds goes viral, boosting her profile and the show's focus.

Emma finds Walt's journal filled with coded pumpkin-growing secrets. Seth helps translate a portion of the code and proposes partnering for the contest, but Emma initially refuses to collaborate. She also discovers that the second book in the collection is actually Walt's poems to his wife, not a guide.

Emma struggles to spread manure and nearly falls while using the tiller, underscoring her inexperience. A poker win by Seth forces Emma to team up with him for the contest. They begin to clash but gradually learn to blend their approaches as partners.

Working together, Emma and Seth grow closer as they share stories while watching old films and discussing their dreams. Seth reveals his Stanford degree in engineering and his choice to leave the city for the countryside, while Emma admits her dream of hosting a talk show. Their partnership deepens as pumpkins begin to show real promise.

The two sneak onto the mayor's farm to uncover his secret methods for growing pumpkins. Later, during a promotional photo shoot in Seattle, Emma musters the courage to ask Seth on a date. The moment marks a turning point as their personal and professional lives start to intertwine.

During a Seattle promotional shoot, Emma is interrupted by an offer to become a New York City morning show anchor. The possibility tests their loyalty and complicates their relationship as they weigh a national career against their Valleyville dream. Emma pauses the moment to consider what truly matters.

Emma and Seth win the pumpkin contest, beating the world record, and secure a future together in Valleyville. Emma rejects the NYC opportunity and launches her own Valleyville talk show with Seth, while Walt's debt is paid from the prize money. The couple’s success marks a turning point in their lives and in the town.

Emma and Seth celebrate their victory and commit to a life in Valleyville. Seth opens his own car repair shop, and Emma begins hosting their joint talk show, signaling a new era for the town. The film ends with the couple engaged and ready for their shared future.