How to Grow Pumpkins
Learning how to grow pumpkins in your garden can be extremely rewarding. From large jack-o’-lantern pumpkins to sweet pie pumpkins you have many great options when planting the squash.
Pumpkins can be a bit tricky to grow and take a lot of care due to being so tender and sensitive through the gardening season.
You will need to be mindful of weeds, watering, and temperature. Once you get the hang of it growing pumpkins can be very rewarding.
How to Grow Pumpkins
Pumpkins do best when sown directly into the ground. Plant after the soil has reached a steady 70 degrees.
Do not plant your pumpkins unless all risk of frost has passed. Tender pumpkin seedlings will freeze or rot if they get too cold.
If your growing in an area with a short growing season you may have to start your seeds indoors.
Be sure to start more pumpkins than you need to make up for any that do not make it through transplant.
Harden them off slowly before planting in the ground.
Pick an area that has full sun and plenty of room for the pumpkins vines to spread.
Pumpkin vines can take up to 100 square feet per hill so you want to be ready for them to spread a lot.
Don’t have that much room?
You can plant pumpkins in large pots or buckets and direct the veins into out of the way areas around your yard as they grow.
Plant your pumpkins in mounds about the size of a pitcher mound to help encourage seeds to germinate and grow well.
Before you plant, be sure to mix in plenty of fertilizer or fresh compost to help your pumpkins thrive.
Plant your seeds, 4 to 5 seeds which will be that many plants per hill. These will germinate in 5 to 10 days.
Once your plants have emerged trim them down by snipping them off instead of pulling so you do not risk damaging the roots of plants you intend to keep.
Mulch well and avoid tugging on weeds so you do not disturb the pumpkins.
Turn pumpkins to encourage an even shape. Use baskets or cardboard to keep pumpkins up off the soil to deter rotting and pests.
Do not harvest your pumpkins or squash early. Wait to until they have turned their intended solid color.
If you end up with too many pumpkins, be sure to make some Mini-Pumpkin Spice Donuts or Mini-Pumpkin Pies…both are so much more delicious with fresh pumpkin!
And be sure to pin this post so you can find it again and again when you get ready to plant your pumpkins!
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