How to Grow Pumpkins
Make your pumpkin garden a success. Whether you are trying to grow a giant pumpkin, white pumpkins or mini pumpkins, understanding some basic guidelines will help you grow great pumpkins.
Buying Pumpkin Seeds
You can find pumpkin seeds at most home improvement stores, WalMart or online. When buying your seeds, think about what kind of pumpkins you want to grow. Pumpkins come in different colors and sizes, so whether you want to grow a giant pumpkin or the perfect pumpkin for pie, you will need the right pumpkin seeds. The packet’s label will help guide you in what pumpkin seeds are best for you.
When to Plant Pumpkins
The end of April is the perfect time to start your pumpkin garden (give or take a few weeks). If you live in an area where you are still experiencing colder weather, start your plants inside. Plant each of your seeds separately in a 12 inch pot and place them in a window with a lot of sunlight and keep them well watered. Place your seeds about an inch and a half below your soil. Each plant typically will produce 2 to 6 pumpkins, just keep in mind some of your plants or pumpkins may not survive.
Preparing your Soil
Find a perfect place for your pumpkins. They will need a lot of sunlight, so avoid shaded areas. Now, make sure your soil is healthy and ready. Apply lime and fertilizer to your soil 2 to 3 days before you plant your pumpkins.
Transplanting the Pumpkin Plants Outside
Be careful when transplanting your plants, they are easily killed during this process. Before transplanting your plants outside, your plants will need to be at least a couple weeks old and have fully formed their first leaf. Also wait to transplant your plants until you believe their will be no more frost for the season. However it is best to be prepared for a late season frost. If frost is expected after they are transplanted, cover your plants with a sheet of plastic or heavy trash bag. The plastic will hold heat from the ground around your plants enabling them to avoid a premature death.
Planting the Pumpkins Outside
If you are planting your pumpkins in a windy area, you might want to consider a wind break to protect your plants until they are a few months old. If you are trying to grow giant pumpkins, the larger the space between your plants the better the chance you will have at them growing larger and healthier. If you are trying to grow a pumpkin over 20 pounds, plant your plants at least 40 feet from one another.
Using Rows to Plant Pumpkins
Make a few rows of dirt at least 12 inches from one another, creating small trenches on both sides to collect water. Then plant 2 to 3 seeds ever couple of feet in your row.
Using Mounds to Plant Pumpkins
Each of your mounds should be 3 feet in size and at least 8 feet apart from one another. Plant 3 to 5 seeds, about six inches apart on each of your mounds.
Watering
Water your pumpkins a few times a week, more if you are experiencing dry and hot weather. When watering your plants, water the soil slowly avoiding the leaves. This will help limit the risk for mildew and other plant diseases. Watering hoses can come in very handy for pumpkin plants. Watering your pumpkins in the early hours will also help with disease control.
Weed and Disease Control
Try to control the weeds around your plant. Pull by hand. Plastic mulches are helpful in pumpkin gardens, they aide in keeping weeds under control, warm the soil and help retain moisture.
Controlling insects will aid in disease control and help your pumpkins grow larger and healthier. Once a disease has started, you can’t stop it, therefore prevention is the best avenue upon which to place your efforts. Ask your local home and garden store for a safe yet effective pesticide.
Pruning Vines
Pruning your pumpkins plants will help strengthen your plants and help control them from taking over you whole garden. Every pumpkin plant has a main and secondary vine that run opposite from one another and tertiary vines that grow from these two primary vines. The tertiary vines can be pruned as soon as when they first start growing, the plant will ooze a little at first, but it will heal quickly. If you are trying to grow larger pumpkins, you will want to prune your vines down to 1 or 2 pumpkins when the pumpkins reach the size of a cantaloupe. This will give the one or two pumpkins you want to keep more energy and nutrients to grow larger.
Placement
Keep an eye on the placement of the vines and pumpkins. To help avoid your stems and vines from breaking, watch out for kinks and make sure your vines are not pulled tight.
Some like to slightly rotate their pumpkins from time to time to help create a rounder pumpkin, but you are risking the breakage of the vines and stems. The risk is typically not worth the it.
Stages of Pumpkin Growth
Day 1 - Planting your seeds
Day 9 – Watch your plant as it emerges from the soil.
Day 11 - See your pumpkin seed emerge from the soil, attached to the top of a leaf. As the leaf grows, the seed will fall off.
Day 17 – Three new leaves will develop, this marks an important stage in your pumpkins growth.
Day 21 – Transport your plants outside (if started inside).
Day 65 - 90 – Pollination occurs, also known as fruit set.
Day 120 – 140 – You pumpkins are fully mature!
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