Pumpkins are a tender, warm-weather crop. Pumpkins are a type of wintry climate squash—grown throughout the summer time for harvest throughout the fall.
- Sow pumpkins indoors 3 to 2 weeks faster than the overall expected frost in spring the transplant them into the garden finally risk of frost has passed.
- Sow pumpkins outdoors when the soil temperature has warmed to 70°F (21°C). Offer protection to pumpkins throughout the garden from cool temperatures with row covers.
- Pumpkins mature 60 to 100 frost-free days after sowing depending on the variety.
Pumpkins, like other wintry climate squashes, will have to completely mature on the vine.
Pumpkin Sowing and Planting Pointers
- Increase pumpkins from seeds or seedlings.
- Pumpkin seeds are viable for 6 years.
- Direct sow pumpkins throughout the garden in spring finally risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 70°F (21°C). In warm-winter spaces, sow pumpkin seeds in midwinter for harvest in early summer time.
- To start out out pumpkins indoors faster than the overall frost in spring, sow seed in peat pots 4 to 3 weeks faster than planting out. The indoor temperature must be 66°F to 85°F (18-29°C) until germination.
- Pumpkin seeds would possibly not germinate at a soil temperature beneath 66°F (18°C).
- Sow seed ½ to 1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) deep.
- Seeds germinate in 4 to 10 days at 85°F (29°C) or warmer.
- House plants throughout the garden 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) apart in all directions.
- Pumpkins can have the good thing about the warm soil created by the use of planting on hills or mounds; carry the soil 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 20 inches (50 cm) massive and expand specific particular person plants on hills. House hills 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) apart.
- Water to stick the soil from drying.
- Fertilize with fish emulsion or a soluble complete fertilizer at section energy.
- Add aged compost to planting beds upfront of transplanting.
- Pumpkins need a soil pH range of 5.5 to 6.8.
- Increase pumpkins in whole sun for best possible conceivable yield.
- Avoid planting pumpkins where cucumbers or melons have grown no longer too way back.
- No longer atypical pest enemies include aphids, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borers, slugs, and snails.
- No longer atypical diseases include bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and cucumber mosaic.
Interplanting: Plant pumpkins with bush beans, corn, dill, eggplant, lettuce, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes.
Container Emerging Pumpkins: Pumpkins are not a good selection for container emerging. They require important room to spread and expand.
Pumpkin Planting Calendar
- 4-3 weeks faster than the overall frost in spring: get began seed indoors for transplanting into the garden later.
- 2-3 weeks after the overall frost in spring: transplant seedlings to the garden; minimum soil temperature 60°
- 3 weeks after the overall frost in spring: direct sow seed throughout the garden.
Recommended Pumpkin Types
- ‘Rouge Vif d’Etampes’, ‘Red Etampes’, and ‘Cinderella’ are antique orange pumpkins.
- Differing types include ‘Atlantic Giant’, ‘The Great Pumpkin’, ‘Howden’, ‘New England Pie’, ‘Wee-B-Little’.
Botanical Determine: Cucurbita maxima
Pumpkins are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family; other participants cucumbers, melons, watermelon, and pumpkins.
Additional pointers: Tips on how to Increase Pumpkins.
