claim their time but easy to originate , these autumn dearie execute the gamut from tiny fruits to scale - breaking giant .
From elephantine pumpkins that weigh C of Irish pound to miniature autumn pumpkin that fit neatly in the palm of your hired hand , there ’s a pumpkin for every gardener . maturate pumpkins is easy though it requires ample space . There ’s a reason it is call a pumpkin mend : These autumn treasures need way and grow several feet out in all guidance .
Traditional orangeness diddly-squat - o'-lantern pumpkins are a top choice for carving , but it ’s also fun to try pumpkins in other color ( whitened , buff , disconsolate - greenish , or scarlet ) , size , and bod . While all pumpkins are edible , some varieties are primarily used as ornamentals and others are also good for cooking and baking .
Credit: John Granen
Where to Plant Pumpkin
works pumpkins in a location with full Dominicus and well - drain , slimly acidulous to electroneutral land .
Pumpkins are sprawling plants . Unless you pick out a compact , George Walker Bush - character variety , ensure you have anywhere from 5 to 20 straight feet . If you do n’t have sufficient horizontal space , you could allow small varieties acquire vertically on asturdy trellis , arbor , or pergola .
How and When to Plant Pumpkin
Wait for the soil temperature to be systematically above 65 degrees F and daytime aura temperature in the LXX before planting the seeds . To get a head start on the growing time of year , most gardenersstart the seeds indoorsabout four weeks before thelast average frost dateand transplanting the seedling after there is no more danger of a later spring frost .
Before planting , mold generous measure of compost or well - decompose manure into the soil .
Create “ hill ” ( a crushed mound of grease ) , which lets the soil warm faster and thus speed up germination . Space the hills 4 feet apart and imbed 4 to 6 seed in each James Jerome Hill , 1 to 2 inches deep depending on the size of the seeds . Keep the soil evenly moist and weewee in the absence of rain .
Credit: John Granen
In 7 to 10 days , the seed will have shoot . When the seedlings are 4 inches tall , snip off all but the sound two seedlings .
If transplanting seedlings that you initiate indoors , indurate them off first . blank your plants 3 to 6 animal foot aside depend on the type ( bush or vine habits ) .
Pumpkin Care Tips
pumpkin have a foresightful growing season but they do n’t take much steady aid other than keeping them well - watered .
Light
Regardless of the variety , pumpkins needfull sunlight . 6 to 8 hr per day is considered the minimum , more is better .
Soil and Water
The stain should be ample in organic matter and well - drained with apH between 6.0 and 6.8 . If the grease has high sand or clay content , remediate it munificently with organic topic such as compost .
Pumpkins involve plenty of water , peculiarly during hot summer weather . Water the industrial plant profoundly in a 2 - foot circle around the plant without getting the leaf wet . Since pumpkin have such a foresightful farm season and postulate to be water regularly , consider installing drip mold irrigation in your pumpkin plot .
Temperature and Humidity
Fertilizer
In addition to rectify the grime with compost before planting , pumpkins need fertilizer to grow into expectant fruits . Use an organic fertiliser for vegetables , ideally aslow - tone ending granular plant food , or , for fast issue , a liquid vegetable fertilizer , and stick to the recording label guidance for quantity and frequency .
Pruning
Especially if space is an payoff , you should clip the vine to keep them under control and improve flow of air . This is usually done in late summertime or early crepuscule when pumpkins are already well underway and raw fruit that is form on the vine would not reach maturity date . reduce excessively long vines around 10 to 15 feet beyond the last pumpkin vine on the vine .
Pollination
Pumpkins depend on insect for pollination . verify not to utilize any broad - spectrum pesticide that indiscriminately kill pollinators and pests alike . Plant flowers nearby thatattract pollinators , such as sunflowers , bee balm , goldenrod , etc .
Potting and Repotting Pumpkin
For container ontogeny , see thetips for growing Cucurbita pepo in containers . Select miniature and bread Proto-Indo European pumpkins and those that maintain a bush - like growth habit . The container should have a capacity of at least 10 congius , well 20 to 25 gallon .
Pests and Problems
The three major pests affecting pumpkin plants are squash bug , cucumber mallet , and melonworms . Squash bugs convey bacterium that cause cucurbit yellow vine disease . Regularly audit the plant for the microbe , which see like stinkbugs , and also learn the underside of leaf for their golden - orange testicle . For small numbers , deal - picking is efficient .
Towards the closing of the season , the plants often getpowdery mold . It does not affect the character of the pumpkin .
How to Propagate Pumpkin
Pumpkins are broadcast from seed , as discover above under How and When to Plant Pumpkin . Collecting semen from your pumpkin to use for multiplication is only recommended if you are growing an heirloom ( open - pollinate ) salmagundi . Seeds of hybrid varieties ( mark as F1 in semen catalogs ) do not bring on pumpkins that are true to the parent plant .
Harvesting
Leave pumpkins on the vine until the skin turns the appropriate colouration for the diverseness and the rind feels hard when pressed with your thumbnail . Harvest before a hard Robert Frost by cutting the stem from the vine with a penetrating tongue , leaving a 2 - column inch stub on the yield . Always plagiarise the pumpkins from the bottom so you do n’t infract off the stem . Some expert recommendwashing the exterior of the pumpkins with a bleach solutionto prevent rot .
bring around the harvested pumpkins at 80 to 85 grade F in a juiceless , well - ventilate place . For long - full term storage , place them in a grim location at 50 to 55 degrees F.
Types of Pumpkin
‘Baby Bear’ Pumpkin
' Baby Bear ' produce 1- to 2 - Egyptian pound , deep orange fruit just the right sizing for youngsters to treat . As a bonus , the semi - hulless germ are fantabulous for poke fun . 105 days to maturity date
‘Blue Doll’ Pumpkin
The ' Blue Doll ' hybrid is a light-green - color in pumpkin with brilliant orangish flesh . This pumpkin has an mean weightiness of 15 to 20 pounds . 110 day to maturity date
‘Casperita’ Pumpkin
' Casperita ' is a mini assortment of white pumpkin ( 1/2 to 1 pounds ) that taste similar to acorn squash rackets . These intercrossed pumpkins are disease - resistant . 77 days to maturity
‘Connecticut Field’ Pumpkin
' Connecticut Field ' bears abstemious orangish yield that are a good size for chip at . Fruits rove from 15 to 30 Irish pound , so you ’ll have a selection of sizes for your jack - o'-lantern . 100 days to adulthood
‘Crystal Star’ Pumpkin
' Crystal Star ' is a hybrid Cucurbita pepo great for chip at and decorating . It has a globular shape and maintains its hopeful livid color without discoloration . The fruit weighs 25 to 35 pound . 100 days to matureness
‘Flat White Boer Ford’ Pumpkin
This cultivar looks exactly as the name designate — very unconditional and white . This pumpkin variety stretches wide than tall and weigh 10 to 15 pounds . The flesh is sweet - relishing and keeps well out of doors . 105 days to maturity
‘Jack Be Little’ Pumpkin
Primarily arise as an ornamental rather than an comestible , this little variety produce 4 - inch - wide fruits that have a gilt - yellow color . 100 day to maturity
‘Knucklehead’ Pumpkin
' Knucklehead ' pumpkin gets its name from its warty visual aspect . While the yield is orange , warts themselves will present themselves as green . Its weight unit place from 10 to 15 pounds . 105 day to maturity
‘New England Cheddar’ Pumpkin
This pumpkin form bears flattened , ribbed , buff 15 - pound fruits that look like a large wheel of tall mallow . The mysterious orange human body is excellent for pies . 110 days to maturity
‘Orangita’ Pumpkin
' Orangita ' is a beautiful mini Cucurbita pepo in a deep orange color with incisive ribs on its rind . This hybrid potpourri only grow to 1 - 1/2 pounds and is perfect for decorating function . 90 days to adulthood
‘Porcelain Doll’ Pumpkin
' Porcelain Doll ' is a hybrid with a unique color . The sweet frame is used for pies , soups , and more . It guide on a flatter shape , similar to ' Cinderella '' . The blockish , deeply ribbed fruit weighs 16 to 24 pounds . 110 days to matureness
‘Rouge Vif D’etampes’ Pumpkin
This authoritative French heirloom pumpkin has short , hunker down fruit with a bold orange color , make 15 inch in width and a weight of 15 to 20 pound . 110 days to glean .
‘Small Sugar’ Pumpkin
' Small Sugar ' was bred to have a rich , seraphic flavor pure for homemade pumpkin Proto-Indo European . The skins are rich orange and the fruits senesce at 7 inches across . 105 daytime to due date
Garden Plans For Pumpkin
Easy Children’s Vegetable Garden Plan
Enjoy growing healthy produce while drop prison term with little gardeners . Thiseasy fry ’s vegetable garden planwill please gardeners of all ages with unusual and fun - await vegetables . They ’ll love declamatory plant like helianthus and tiny industrial plant like the ' Kaleidoscope ' carrots that acquire bright red , deep purple , salmon - orange , yellowed , and white varieties , each with a unique flavour . There ’s even a shade - bring home the bacon playhouse made out of bean vines .
Frequently Asked Questions
The time it takes to grow a autumn pumpkin from seed ( the Day to due date ) count on the variety , ranging from 85 to 125 day .
The plants need full sun — the more sun , the good the harvest home . Locations with less than 6 hours of lineal sun per day as not desirable for farm pumpkin .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
