This is to avoid creating a conducive moist environment that promotes the development of pests and diseases. Prepare your soil. The vines are not hardy and need a lot of sunshine and plenty of water in order for them to give you quality produces. Pumpkins need a sunny position, moisture-retentive soil and shelter from cold wind. Do this by making a hole about a spade’s depth and width. Pumpkins take up a large space in the home garden. Vining pumpkins need a much larger space for them to spread. How to Grow Pumpkins Successfully in Your Garden. These light covers allow water and light to penetrate through to the base of your plant to help keep the plant watered at all the time and the insects out. How to Grow Pumpkins from Seed. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc38fd8ec85d3f829bf1e080ce52046" );document.getElementById("hfd0255cf6").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Find more garden guides, tips and advice. Log in, The Simple Product That Made Canning Better Forever ». Vining pumpkins need a much larger space for them to spread. Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. To grow them successfully, you need to know how to prepare the soil, when to start the seeds, how far apart to space them and when to harvest the pumpkins. In the hobby garden, pumpkin is again at the top of the popularity list. After the hills, dig out a pocket at the center of each hill which is 1” deep. Pumpkins have a very long growing season, some verities up to 120 days (4 months). Here are 11 tips to make your pumpkin harvest a success. After your plants have started blooming, your farm will attract a lot of bees as they help in pollination. Your email address will not be published. They do however take up a lot of room so they are suited to a large backyard or country block. If you see no bees in your garden after your plants have started flowering, you may employ self-pollination using an artist brush. Pumpkins belong to the gourd family and most varieties grow very large with trailing vines on which is where the fruits grow. They are nutritious and come with a lot of benefits as they have vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients. Then, drop 4 seeds and cover the seed with enough soil. Also, it is best to apply water early in the morning so that any excess moisture left on the leaves has time to dry. If you are anticipating growing in the spring, the soil can be prepared in the fall. Plant your pumpkin seeds in hills, just the same way as squash or cucumber. For bush type variety pumpkins, you need 3 feet of spacing between each plant or hill. Use a hosepipe to spray a mist all over the hills with water. Although it will be hard to keep up with their watering requirements, you can also grow pumpkins in growbags or containers (at least 45cm/18in wid… It is best to plant them where there is not a lot of wind as the vines are weak and may break in strong winds. Always check the temperature of your soil, especially with raised neds. How to Grow Pumpkins Successfully in Your Garden. A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash, Cucurbita genus. This plant is a vine, and it spreads on a large surface, at times it may spread for up to 20 feet and hence you need ample room for to grow pumpkins. Pumpkins typically take 95 to 120 days to mature. 0 . Plan to plant pumpkins in late spring or early summer for a fall harvest. So, it is advisable not to use an overhead sprinkler. And for the variety of vining, the ideal spacing is 8 to 10 feet between each plant. Through organic gardening, we can reduce our environmental footprint on our beautiful planet Earth while providing economic and healthy food for our families. Due to its nutritious value, some people have begun planting them and below are some of the steps that you should follow to successfully plant pumpkins. Backfill with a mixture of compost or well-rotted manure and soil. They can also be very productive with little care required. Find out when to plant pumpkins in your region. Sprinkle a general-purpose fertiliser over the soil. How to Grow Pumpkins Successfully If you live in an area with a longer growing season it is best if you plant your pumpkins by seed directly into the soil. They may be used as food; to make desserts, in soups, in side dishes and some people use them to make beer, or for medicinal purposes. It is easiest to build hills with a garden hoe and space the hills ten inches apart. These plants contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, but they are very rich in dietary fibers, anti-oxidants, and vitamins. However, make sure you don't water the leaves as they will get spoilt. Pumpkin seeds do not germinate in cold soil, so they need to be planted after the chance of frost has passed. When using covers to grow pumpkins, remove the covers immediately after the plants start to bloom so that the blooms may be pollinated. Pumpkins need a lot of water so, keep the soil moist all the time. How to Grow Hot Peppers | Grow Chili Peppers from Seed, How to Grow Beans | The Best String Beans, The 5 Top Tomato Growing Tips for Growing Tomatoes at Home, 5 Tips to Growing Peppers for Beginners | Vegetable Gardening for Beginners, How to Care For African Violets and Make Them Flourish, Pruning Raspberries – Tips on How to Prune Raspberries, Best Pots for Succulents – How To Choose The Perfect Ones, Best Perennials for Bees to Plant in Your Garden. Robin is an avid life-long gardener who believes in self-sufficiency and sustainability. Two weeks before planting or sowing seed outdoors, make individual planting pockets 1.8m (6ft) apart. You want soil temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21.11 degrees Celsius. So start them indoors 3-4 weeks before YOUR last frost or wait til the soil is 70 degrees to direct plant seeds. Pumpkins are one of the easiest productive plants to grow at home. But if you live in an area with a shorter growing season you can start your pumpkins indoors and plant them as transplants. And for the variety of vining, the ideal spacing is 8 to 10 feet between each plant. For bush type variety pumpkins, you need 3 feet of spacing between each plant or hill. Rather use a garden hose equipped with a misting nozzle as this waters the mounds lightly.