When fall is coming, you really want to head to a pumpkin farm to see those creepy vines with orange fruit all over the place, right??? Pumpkins are the vibe of autumn and Halloween, so why not grow them in your home garden to make the most out of the Halloween season?
Today is the day to make it happen! Because we are here to give you a complete guide on how to grow pumpkins.
When to Plant Pumpkins
Pumpkins are sensitive to cold, so wait until the frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 65°–95°F (18°–35°C) before planting seeds outdoors. Check your Planting Calendar based on your zip code for precise timing.
If you live in a region with a short growing season, start seeds indoors in peat pots 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost. Gradually harden off the seedlings before transplanting them into warm, compost-enriched soil.
For Halloween pumpkins, plant in the North in late May and the extreme South in early July. Refer to the seed packet for the days to harvest, and count back from a week before Halloween to time it right. Planting too early could lead to rot!
How to Plant Pumpkins
Pumpkins need at least 50 to 100 square feet per hill. If you’re tight on space, guide the vines to the edges of your garden bed.
You can plant seeds in rows 8 feet apart or hills spaced 4 feet apart. A hill is simply a grouping of seeds or plants. It helps warm the soil faster, improve drainage, and control pests. Dig 12 to 15 inches deep to prepare hills and mix in plenty of aged manure or compost.
For rows, plant seeds 6 to 12 inches apart. Thin out the seedlings when they reach 2 to 3 inches. Plant 4 or 5 seeds 1 inch deep in hills, keeping them moist until they germinate. When seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to two or three plants per hill by trimming the extras.
Plant seeds 1 inch deep for miniature varieties with 2 or 3 seeds every 2 feet. Space rows 6 to 8 feet apart, thinning seedlings to one plant every 2 feet once they develop their first true leaves.
How to Grow Pumpkins
- To master how to grow pumpkins, use row covers early in the season to protect plants and prevent insect problems. Be sure to remove the covers before flowering to allow pollination.
- Bees are essential for pollination, so avoid using insecticides that could harm them. Apply them in the late afternoon or evening when the blossoms are closed. Consider adding a bee house to your garden or planting colourful flowers near your pumpkin patch to attract more bees.
- Pumpkins need 1 inch of water per week. Water deeply in the morning and hot afternoons, especially when fruit is setting. Be careful not to water the foliage or fruit unless it’s sunny, as dampness can lead to rot and disease.
- Apply mulch around your pumpkins to retain moisture, reduce weeds, and control pests.
- Weed gently to avoid damaging the shallow roots. Also, handle the vines carefully, as the fruit’s quality depends on their health.
- Pumpkins are heavy feeders, so side-dress with aged manure or compost mixed with water.
- Train small vine varieties to grow up a trellis. For larger varieties, support the fruit using netting or old stockings.
- Fertilize when the plants are about 1 foot tall, just before the vines start running, using a high-nitrogen formula. As blooming approaches, switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer.
If your first flowers aren’t forming fruit, don’t worry because both male and female blossoms need time to open, so patience is vital!
How to Harvest and Store Pumpkins
When learning how to grow pumpkins, observe when the fruit starts to form. Slip a piece of cardboard or folded newspaper underneath to prevent contact with soil and significantly reduce the risk of rot if you’re growing only a few pumpkins. Toward the end of the season, remove any leaves that block sunlight from ripening pumpkins.
Harvest pumpkins before frost hits. The fruit is ready when fully coloured, the skin is hard, and the stem begins to shrivel and dry. Since pumpkin vines can be prickly, wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid irritation. To harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the stem, leaving at least an inch attached (more is even better). Always lift pumpkins from the bottom, not by the stem, as a broken stem shortens storage time.
After harvesting, cure pumpkins by placing them in the sun for 10 to 14 days to harden the skin, seal the stem, and enhance flavour. Dry, warm weather is ideal for curing. If frost threatens, cover them with blankets or move them indoors. Once cured, store pumpkins in a cool space to ensure they don’t touch each other. The best storage temperature is around 50°F with 60% humidity. Use a basement or any frost-free area if you don’t have a root cellar. Under the right conditions, cured pumpkins can last 2 to 3 months.
Potential Problems With Pumpkins
When learning how to grow pumpkins, watch out for powdery mildew. It is a fungal disease that causes white powdery spots on the leaves and can stunt plant growth in severe cases. Drought makes pumpkins more vulnerable to powdery mildew, so water regularly and avoid wetting the leaves to reduce the risk of infection. If you spot affected leaves, remove and dispose of them immediately.
In cooler weather, pumpkins may struggle to develop, or small fruits may drop off the plant. It usually happens due to poor pollination. Once the weather warms up, this issue often resolves on its own.
