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Pumpkins are a member of the Cucurbit family which includes squash and cucumbers. They are rich in Vitamin A and potassium, and are pretty much an overlooked Vegetable other than on Halloween. You should see what you can really do with a pumpkin ! Check out our Pumpkin recipes section also.
How to Grow Pumpkins - Planting You can sow the seeds directly in the soil, or start them off early in planters. In either event don't place either seedlings or sow seed outdoors until the threat of frost has passed. Start with a rich soil , check your Soil ph and use a fertilizer with a high phosphorous content when first planting to stimulate root growth
Direct seeding pumpkins is not recommended in areas with short growing seasons. Pumpkins need at least three months of frost free, warm weather. If you live in a cool climate, start pumpkins indoors.
Plant bush varieties one inch deep with 2 seeds per foot and thin to a single plant every 3 feet. Allow 5 feet between rows. Bush varieties are the best for limited gardening area. The giant varieties develop so rapidly and large that they may actually break from the vine as they expand on a vine anchored to the ground.
Vining pumpkins require a minimum of 50 to 100 square feet per hill. Plant Vining seeds one inch deep with 4-5 seeds per hill and 5-6 feet between hills, Rows 10 to 12 feet apart. When the plants are well-established you may want to thin them out to the best plants per hill.
How to Grow Pumpkins - Watering
Keep the pumpkins evenly moist and water deeply during dry spells. To prevent mildew, water pumpkin plants at their base, avoid watering the pumpkin foliage, as this will minimize the occurrence of opportunistic fungal infestations. Drip irrigation can minimize the amount of foliage and fruit disease compared with overhead irrigation . Inexpensive Drip Systems are available.
During dry periods of little or no rain fall , a slow, deep soaking will be needed about once a week. Water steadily until consistent puddles form on the surface of the soil.
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How to Grow Pumpkins - Fertilizer and Soil
As stated before, pumpkin plants are heavy feeders they need fertile, aerated soil that is 70°-90° for proper germination. Work compost or well-rotted manure into the soil. The ideal pH for pumpkin and squash growth is between 6.0 to 7.5, but they will grow on soils with a pH of up to 8.0.
- The first stage of fertilizing should be based on providing phosphorous for root growth, A high-phosphorus fertilizer of course -has a higher ratio of phosphorus than the other macronutrients - nitrogen and potassium. The center number on a fertilizer label indicates the phosphorus content. Fertilizer labels express the percentage, by weight, of each nutrient. A high-phosphorus fertilizer would have a ratio such 5-10-5, double the weight of nitrogen and potassium. Excessive phosphorus can lead to premature flowering, a weaker plant later and a smaller harvest. {5-10-5 or 5-15-5}
- As the plants become solidly rooted gradually shift to a more balanced formulation with more nitrogen than phosphorous. Nitrogen is represented by the first number on a fertilizer label . Too much nitrogen can delay the emergence and reduce the amount of flowers and fruit.
- As time progresses, prior to fruit setting switch to higher potassium formulation for development of the set fruit. Potassium is represented by the third number on a fertilizer label.
Also See: Understanding Fertilizer Labels
How to Grow Pumpkins - Companion PlantingCompanion planting is a system of planting various plants in proximity to each other in a fashion that will compliment each others growth and health, as well as avoiding planting in proximity to plants that do not get along well together. Pumpkin grow well with corn, melon and squash.
Corn when companion-planted with squash or pumpkin is said to disorient certain insects pests and protect the vining crop . In reciprocation, pumpkins prickly vines are said to discourage raccoons and some rodent pests from chowing down on the sweet corn. I don't have much of a raccoon problem anymore {my 2 German shepherds handled that issue very nicely , Thank You} but a few years back - I did , my corn was unmolested - whether it was due to this planting scheme or just dumb luck I can't say for certain.
Marigold planted in proximity will deter many varieties of beetles. Nasturtium as well as Oregano deters beetles and several other harmful insects.
Avoid planting Pumpkin in proximity to, or in the same plot that potatoes have recently grown - recent being the last several seasons.
If feasible, don't plant squash, cucumbers or pumpkin on the same plot more often than once in a three year cycle.
See : Vegetable Rotations, Successions and Intercropping Roland E. Roberts
Extension Vegetable Specialist Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Pumpkin Seeds
From a gardeners point view, non ornamental Plants are merely a support system for the best growth of fruit. Pumpkins , if left to their own devices, will grow rampant throughout your field and or yard. Adequate spacing of plants is the first step in this process, however after the plants are established will you need to train the vines to grow in the desired direction as well as prune them. Proper pruning of pumpkin vines will force the plant to devote it's energies towards fruit growth.
As stated earlier on this page When the vine is about five feet long and has set three to four good fruits, pinch off the growing tip and remove all new flowers to direct the plant's energy into ripening the crop.
The main vines should be pruned again when they reach ten to twelve feet beyond the last fruit you choose to leave on the plant. Runners off the main vine should be trimmed when they reach ten feet from the main vine.
Trimming a vine is not Rocket Science, although some garden gurus would have you believe otherwise. Simply cut the vine at the end, preferably even to a lateral shoot. Use of a sharp knife or pruning shears is recommended, if your vine is woody in texture you may strip off more of the plant surface than is necessary.
Some Gardeners bury the cut end under a shovelful of soil to minimize moisture loss while the wound is fresh. I generally avoid this practice as soil borne pathogens may well find an easy access point to your plant.
Shortly after pruning the vines, you may notice a spurt of new vines and runners popping out. You should continue to pinch off excessive new growth , not all , but most new growth, eventually the plants energy will be directed toward the growth of the pumpkin rather than excessive foliage. A little extra potassium and less nitrogen will also encourage the fruit growth instead of foliage and vine growth.Don't prune your pumpkin Vines, and you'll probably still get some decent pumpkins, not as good as you could have, but the Great Pumpkin certainly shant be coming to your pumpkin patch this Halloween.
Harvesting Pumpkins
Pumpkins can be harvested whenever they are a deep, solid color (orange for most varieties) and the rind is hard. If vines remain healthy, harvest in late September or early October, before heavy frosts. If vines die prematurely from disease or other causes, harvest the mature fruit and store them in a moderately warm, dry place until Halloween. Cut pumpkins from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife and leave 3 to 4 inches of stem attached. Snapping the stems from the vines results in many broken or missing "handles." Pumpkins without stems usually do not keep well. Wearing gloves when harvesting is advisable fruit because many varieties have sharp prickles on their stems.
Avoid cutting and bruising the pumpkins when handling them. Fruits that are not fully mature or that have been injured or subjected to heavy frost do not keep well. Store in a dry place where the temperature is between 50 and 55°F.
