Beginner’s guide on how to grow pumpkins successfully

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I love the sight of our big pumpkin plants in our vegetable garden. It’s amazing to see how the pumpkin plant grows from a tiny seedling into a plant with big leaves, long vines, tendrils, and, eventually, pumpkins! In this blog post I will teach you everything you need to know to grow pumpkins in your vegetable garden.

I really feel like growing pumpkins in your vegetable garden is a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Pumpkins are not only a delicious fruit, but they also add a festive touch to your garden and are perfect for autumn decorations.

WHAT IS THE BEST CLIMATE AND SEASON TO GROW PUMPKINS?

Pumpkins thrive in warm weather and require a long growing season. We sowed our pumpkin seeds indoors at the end of April and didn’t have any pumpkins until the end of summer.

Pumpkins prefer temperatures between 65 °F (18 °C) and 95 °F (35 °C). It’s best to plant pumpkin seeds when the soil temperature reaches around 70°F (21°C) and all danger of frost has passed. In most climates, this is usually in late spring or early summer.

​If you start your seeds indoors, you’ll lengthen your growing season and will be able to harvest more pumpkins. You should sow the seeds a few weeks before the last frost date when there is still a chance of frost out there. By the time the frost is gone, you can safely transfer your seedlings to the ground outside.

WHERE IN YOUR GARDEN IS IT BEST TO GROW PUMPKINS?

Because pumpkins want a sunny location you should pick a spot in your garden where they will at least receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day (just like zucchini and tomatoes).

​They also need plenty of space to spread out or they need to have the possibility to grow vertically (more on that at the end of this article). Each pumpkin vine can take up to 50 square feet (4.6 square meters) of space, so plan accordingly to allow them enough room to grow.

We tied our pumpkin plants to a long bamboo stick. Starting from June, the plant had such fast growth, that we had to tie it every other day to the bamboo stick otherwise it would not get the support it needed.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE THE SOIL OF YOUR GARDEN FOR GROWING PUMPKINS?

Pumpkins prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds, rocks, or debris and amend it with compost or well-rotted manure. The ideal soil pH for pumpkins is between 6.0 and 7.5.

​This week I heard a great tip for when you buy manure or compost from Jessica Soward from Roots and Refuge farm. To know sure the soil, manure, or compost has no pests, diseases, or unwanted fungi you can grow some beans in it. The bean seedlings will die within a week if the soil is contaminated so you will know relatively quickly if you can use the soil/manure/compost or not.

HOW TO PLANT THE PUMPKIN SEEDS

As said before, you can plant the seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost date. You can use seedling trays or press some soil with a soil blocker. Sow the seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and cover them loosely with some soil. Water the soil every day, when the seedlings start to appear make sure they will get enough sunlight. You can pick a sunny spot in your (green) house or use a grow light.

You can also plant the pumpkin seeds directly into the soil. Sow the seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. The space between the seeds depends on how you are going to grow the plants. When you’ll grow the plants vertically they can be planted relatively close to each other. If you plan on growing the plants on the ground you should sow the seeds about 3 feet (90 cm) apart to allow for proper vine growth. 

HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO WATER THE PUMPKINS?

The pumpkins need regular watering, especially during dry periods. When searching the internet I found to water the pumpkins with 1 inch of water per week, but I learned by just doing it, that watering them with a hose every evening is sufficient enough. Just ensure that the soil remains consistently moist and your plants will grow tremendously.

​Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to rot or fungal diseases! It’s best to water at the base of the plants rather than overhead to prevent foliage diseases. The easiest way of watering your plants is a drip system, like this one for example.

​Applying a layer of organic mulch around the pumpkin plants can help keep the soil moist longer. As a bonus, it will regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth (a bit). Straw, woodchips, or shredded leaves make excellent mulching materials for pumpkins.

POLLINATION OF THE PUMPKINS?

Because pumpkins have both male and female flowers it is no luxury to have a few flowers, like marigold or borage nearby so bees and other pollinators will pollinate the pumpkin flowers. Without this pollination, the plant will not grow any pumpkins and that would be a great shame!

You can also pollinate the pumpkin plant by hand. If the plant or, if you have more pumpkin plants at hand, the plants form female and male flowers you have a few hours to pollinate the female flowers.

When both flowers have grown and opened you can pick a male flower, separate the stamen from the buds, and rub with the stamen of this flower onto the pistil of the female flower. Make sure there is enough pollen transferred to the female pistil. If you don’t want to disturb the plant by picking its flowers you can also use a soft paintbrush, ear tip, or feather to transfer the pollen from the stamen to the female pistil.

DO I NEED TO FERTILIZE THE PUMPKIN PLANTS IN MY GARDEN?

In short yes, I would fertilize pumpkins in your vegetable garden. Pumpkins need a lot of fertilization such as a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphate and potassium, as they are heavy feeders. A fertilizer high in nitrogen will boost the growth of the pumpkin plant but only in its vines and leaves.

To provide enough nutrients so you’ll have much pumpkin yield, provide the plant with a fertilizer high in phosphate and potassium. You can also add compost or fertilizer as soon as the plants start to vine. Repeat this every few weeks so the plants will receive enough nutrients to grow.

HOW TO CONTROL PEST AND DISEASE AROUND YOUR PUMPKIN PLANT?

Common pests that can affect your pumpkin plants are squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and powdery mildew. Make sure to recognize these pests and diseases so you can handle them accordingly. 

In general, you can save your pumpkin plant by handpicking pests, using row covers, and, at last, applying organic insecticides when necessary. Proper spacing of the pumpkin plants and good air circulation by cutting some vines can also help prevent diseases. Also, don’t forget to cut off any yellowed leaves. This way the plant can use its energy in growing strong and healthy leaves instead of wasting it on leaves that are dying.

​Squash bugs 

​These bugs are a common garden pest that can be devastating for your pumpkin plants. Squash bugs have a flat body of brown or gray color. They can multiply quickly and cause damage to the leaves, stems, and fruits of the plant.

Upon encountering a squash bug I would recommend immediately picking it off the plant and disposing it in a bucket of soapy water. Check the undersides of the leaves to see if there are any eggs, if so remove them all.

Cucumber beetles

​These beetles are small and have a yellow-greenish or black body with stripes or spots. They feed directly on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of your pumpkin plants and carry diseases that will infest the plants when they feed on them.

The result of an infestation of these beetles can stunt plant growth, lower yields of produce, or even the death of your plants.

How to prevent and manage the cucumber beetle:

• ​Use floating row covers for your young plants.
• Handpick and put the beetles in soapy water when you see them.
• Mix 1 ml of neem oil with 100 ml of water and spray on the infected plants.
• Remove heavily-infested plants from your garden.

Regularly inspect your plants and take appropriate action at the first sign of infestation or disease. By planning your garden in a well-thought-out way and using permaculture, pests can be repelled naturally. 

Powdery mildew

​Powdery mildew is a fungal disease and a common problem you’ll encounter when growing pumpkins. A large range of plants is susceptible to this fungus. You can encounter powdery mildew when growing pumpkin, cucumber, squash, zucchini, lettuce, peas, roses, and even apple and pear trees.

It manifests as a powdery, white fungal growth on the leaves, stems, and even fruits of the plant. This affliction is caused by various species of fungi. This unwelcome visitor thrives in warm, humid conditions, making it a significant concern, especially during the growing season. 

Powdery mildew affects the plant by inhibiting photosynthesis, stunting growth, and weakening the overall health of the zucchini plant. If left unaddressed, it can significantly reduce yields and compromise the quality of your precious harvest. 

Prevention and treatment of powdery mildew:

• Prune affected leaves and stems of the plant to improve air circulation.
• Avoid overhead watering but water at the base of the plants.
• Practice proper spacing between the plants.
• Mix equal parts of milk and water and spray it on the affected plants.
• Mix 1 part neem oil with 100 parts of water and spray it on the affected areas of the plant. Repeat every 7 – 14 days.
• When there is no sign of recovery, remove the plant entirely to prevent the powdery mildew from spreading to other plants.

HOW LONG DO PUMPKINS TAKE TO GROW?

Pumpkins are ready for harvest when their skin is hard and fully colored. How long it will take to grow depends on several variables like the variety of the pumpkin, when you sowed the pumpkin, and how the growing conditions of the plant were.

In general, you could say if you sowed the pumpkin seeds in April or May, you can harvest pumpkins around September/October. It’s however best to look at your pumpkin and check if the stem is browning, the color of the pumpkin is deepening, and if the leaves are crumbling. If all three variables are a yes, you can harvest some pumpkins!

HOW TO HARVEST PUMPKINS?

Cut the pumpkins from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving a few inches of stem attached. Handle them carefully to avoid any bruising or damage. Make sure to cure the pumpkins after harvesting. Lay them in a warm, dry environment for about 2 weeks to improve their flavor and shelf life. By curing the pumpkins the skin hardens, this hardened skin will protect the pumpkins longer from rot and decay.

​WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL GARDEN

​Pumpkins need quite a bit of space in a vegetable garden. The pumpkin plant has an extensive amount of long vines that can grow for several feet. For gardeners with small gardens, there is a solution. You can use a support structure such as trellises, fences, or even wooden or bamboo stakes. 

​As the pumpkin grows gently guide it towards the support structure. Its tendrils will attach the vines to the structure but to be sure you can always tie the vines to the structure for extra support.

If you still have a limited amount of space you can prune the vines so the plant doesn’t get too big, and it will channel all its energy into producing fruit. Be aware when pruning, your plant needs to have a chance to mature fruit, don’t prune too enthusiastically, and give the plant enough time to grow some fruits.

DECORATIVE PUMPKIN’S

Certain types of pumpkins are primarily grown for decorative purposes and are not typically used for eating. These pumpkins are often referred to as “ornamental pumpkins” or “decorative pumpkins.” They are bred for their unique shapes, colors, and textures, making them popular for autumn decorations, such as pumpkin displays, centerpieces, and jack-o’-lanterns.

​While ornamental pumpkins are generally safe to eat, they are not as flavorful or desirable for culinary purposes compared to varieties specifically cultivated for consumption. Ornamental pumpkins may have less flesh, thicker rinds, and a less appealing taste or texture. They are often used as non-edible decorations and are not commonly used in cooking or baking.

​If you are looking to grow pumpkins for eating, it’s best to choose varieties specifically designated as “culinary” or “pie pumpkins.” These varieties are bred for their sweet and flavorful flesh, making them ideal for making pumpkin pies, soups, breads, and other delicious dishes.

​When selecting pumpkin seeds or seedlings, be sure to check the variety description to ensure it is suitable for culinary use if that is your intention. It’s always a good idea to consult with local nurseries or seed catalogs to find the best pumpkin varieties for your specific culinary needs and growing conditions. Although these decorative pumpkins are edible they won’t taste good, just use them for decoration in the fall.

​HOW TO GROW ONE BIG GIANT PUMPKIN

If you talk about how to grow pumpkins you can’t skip the big, humongous, giant, mega pumpkins that are grown for festivals and pumpkin prize contests. But how does one grow such a large pumpkin? First of all, if your goal is to have a large yield of pumpkins so you can eat pumpkin all year around, I would not recommend growing one ultra, mega-large pumpkin. The giant pumpkin is edible but is much more difficult to store, if kept cool you can store it for several months. If you have a lot of space in your garden it can be really fun to see how big you can grow your pumpkin!

How to start

For starters, you should get the right pumpkin variety seeds. Not every pumpkin seed will grow a giant pumpkin. Try varieties such as Atlantic Giant or Dill’s Atlantic Giant. These seeds are harvested from large pumpkins to ensure you can grow one yourself.

Next, prepare a well-draining and fertile garden bed. Giant pumpkins require nutrient-rich soil, so amend your garden plot with compost or well-rotted manure. You can even grow your pumpkin in a compost pile! Ensure your pumpkin patch lays in the full sun for at least 6-8 hours a day. To encourage rapid growth and provide a warm environment (warm soil) use black plastic mulch. Cover the soil and create a mini greenhouse effect. When planting the seeds, sow them about 1 inch deep and space them a few feet apart. This will give the pumpkins ample room to grow.

​To help your giant pumpkin reach its full potential, provide consistent care and attention throughout the growing season. Water deeply and regularly, making sure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize your pumpkin plants with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to provide essential nutrients for growth. As the pumpkin develops, select a single, vigorous vine. Start to prune away any other pumpkin vines to channel the plant’s energy into producing one giant, colossal fruit.

Additionally, as the pumpkin grows, gently rotate it periodically to ensure even sun exposure and a symmetrical shape. With dedication and proper care, you’ll be well on your way to growing a giant pumpkin that can impress both family and friends, plus it will provide you with a lot of pumpkins for lots and lots of pumpkin pie and such!

To conclude this guide on how to grow pumpkins

Growing pumpkins in your vegetable garden requires patience, space, and proper care. With the right conditions, attention, and a little patience you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious pumpkins that are perfect for cooking, carving, or decorating during the fall season.

You might also like one of these beginner’s guides for gardening!

• Tomatoes
• Zucchini’s
• Beetroots

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