Growing Pumpkins:In a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun.
Typically in the middle of small hills or mounds about three feet in diameter. Surround each hill with a moat (about 4 inches wide and 4 inches deep) to help contain water around the roots. Plant 4 to 5 seeds in a circle in the middle of the hill, and space the seeds 6 to 8 inches apart. Space the hills about 10 feet apart.
Cover w/about an inch of loose, moist soil.
Sprouts in 7-14 days
After a few weeks, vines can grow as much as 6″ a day. Vines get as long as 30′ and can be pruned.
80% – 90% water means water often
Pumpkins are ready to harvest once the color of the fruit has deepened into one of the shades of the setting sun — somewhere between deep yellow and fiery red, depending on the variety. Leave several inches of stem — it helps them stay fresh — and let them cure in the sun for 10 days. Cover them at night if there is danger of frost. Then, store the harvest in a dry cool place. With proper care, you may just have pumpkins until Spring.
I planted mine today! Planted 30 seeds. Hope I get some pumpkins!
30 SEEDS. Are you nuts? If half sprout (and you’ve had much better strike rate than that) you’ll end up with 50 or so? I’m thinking each vine will produce several fruits but that you’ll pluck the runts of the litter to encourage the best one or two (I’m totally guessing here). If not, and you keep them all you’ll end up with about a million pumpkins. Halloween should be fun at your house!
You’d better find out what you can do with them beyond making pumpkin pie or you’ll be asking for diet tips soon.
Right, I’ll pick off the runts!
I planted in various places to see which they prefer.. I don’t care a thing about the fruit, I just want the yard to look wonderful with all the green vines and orange pumpkins for the fall! It’s all about the aesthetics with me!
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