How to Grow and Harvest Pumpkins

Do you want to grow pumpkins in your home garden? Wondering where to start that will help you to grow pumpkins? Don’t worry, this is the complete guide that will help you know everything you need to know about growing pumpkins in your garden. 

Many gardeners grow a pumpkin for ornamental value in their garden spaces. What’s more exciting about the pumpkin is you can cook a variety of dishes with it. However, if you are thinking of growing the pumpkin in your gardens, you have to choose the right variety of pumpkins. 

Additionally, you need to know about the growing seasons of pumpkins and how you can harvest them, and essential growing tips. Don’t worry; we have wrapped out here all the things for you. In this guide, you learn how to grow the pumpkins, caring tips, when to plant, and harvesting time. 

So, let’s read the guide in detail and follow it to grow the most delicious pumpkin in your gardens. 

Do you know there’s always confusion about pumpkin leaves? Are they edible or not? We have answered this tricky question on how to eat pumpkin leaves. 

Another confusion that is worldwide is whether Garlic is A Vegetable, Herb, or Spice?

An Overview About Pumpkins

Pumpkins are generally grown in the hot regions of North America. Growing pumpkins can be fun because it has a long growing season, and you may need to have ample space to grow giant pumpkins.

But, one thing about the pumpkin which you need to know is it’s a heavy feeder plant. So, it requires a lot of nutrition during the growing stage. But, despite a heavy feeder, it is very easy to cultivate, and you can easily grow pumpkins in your spaces.

Also Read: How to Grow Plum Tomatoes

When to Plant Pumpkins?

Pumpkins cannot tolerate the cold temperature. So, try to avoid planting the pumpkin during the frost season. Instead, plant the pumpkin when the temperature ranges between 65-95 F. This is the optimal temperature range. 

However, to have the pumpkins during Halloween, make sure to check the seeds packets to know how many days it requires to mature and harvest. 

Pumpkin seeds can be planted in hot climate conditions in the soil directly. Then, when the frost season passes, you can grow them easily. 

The growing season is extremely short, and within two to four weeks, it starts sprouting. 

How to Grow Pumpkins

Time to find out how actually you can grow pumpkins in your home garden. Tru to follow all the tips below that will help you in growing giant pumpkins without much of a fuss.

Have a look and start growing pumpkins in no time. 

Step 1: Plant Pumpkin Seeds

You can follow two different ways to plant the pumpkin seeds. One is row, and the second is hills. Here, hills mean the place where the soil gets warm quickly. So, the pumpkin seed will germinate faster in that type of soil. However, you need to have proper pest control and well-drained soil. 

You can prepare the soil by digging 15 inches deep and mixing the soil with an essential quantity of manure and compost. You can perform the same steps as you did for hills for rows.

Make sure to plant the seed at a 6-10 feet distance. Add water until the seed starts germinating. Snip off all unwanted plants growing near the pumpkin plant. Maintain the supply of nutrients and water when the plant gets taller at least two to three inches

The pumpkin has an adventitious root system, requiring huge fertilizers to grow. However, you can follow the routine and add three to four pounds of fertilizers. Moreover, you can add a 10-10-10 ratio of the fertilizer per 100 square feet. This helps to enrich the soil with the right amount of nutrition. 

Soil with acidic pH doesn’t support the growth of the plant. So, you need to add quick lime to lower the pH level and make it favorable to support the plant’s growth. 

Pumpkin is not only a giant fruit but also a heavy feeder. The more you care, the more you feed, the more it expands in size. So, do ensure to feed the plant once or twice in the week.

Make sure to prepare your soil bed before you plant them. Add compost and fertilizers at least two weeks before seeding the pumpkin plant. Mix an enormous amount of compost to support the growth.

Step 2: Grow Pumpkins

To grow pumpkins, you can follow these essential tips that will ensure healthy and giant pumpkins. 

• First, protect the pumpkin plant using a row cover in the early growing season. This cover helps to protect the plant from insect attacks and unfavorable environmental conditions. Then, remove the cover when the pumpkin starts blooming; this helps to pollinate faster. 
• Add mulch below the pumpkin to maintain the moisture level. Adding mulch into the soil is also helpful to prevent the growth of weeds and protect the plant from pesticides. 
• Keep in mind that pumpkins get tender faster. So, it would help if you control the weed growing near the pumpkin. Avoid over-cultivating the pumpkin because it may spoil the roots and damage the pumpkin. 
• The majority of the fruit varieties can easily train to the trellis. Large varieties can also do the same. However, it may look challenging to support the biggest fruit with the net during the growing time. But you need to perform it to protect your fruit from damage and pest attack. 
• Flowering may take time, so maintain patience and let them bloom at their time.
• Honeybees can benefit the pumpkin as it promotes pollination and may keep a check on the bugs. So, try to attract more bees in your yards and garden areas so that flowers can get pollinated faster. 
• The vines are extremely delicate. So, ensure to take care of the vines during the growing season. 

And that is all you need to know to grow pumpkins in your yard. 

Growing Tips to Have Healthy Pumpkins

Below are some growing tips that will help you to grow a big and healthy pumpkin. 

• Pumpkins are amongst the heavy feeder variety. Therefore, they require compost and manure timely to sustain the ideal growth. 
• Fertilize your pumpkin crop timely and make sure to maintain the supply of nitrogen. For example, adding 1 foot of nitrogen during the growing time would be perfect for growing the best pumpkins. Then switch to the phosphorous just before they are about the bloom. 
  
• When the pumpkin starts growing, make sure to pinch off/tear off the fizzy ends to prevent the overgrowth of the vine. Doing so can provide a lot of space for the pumpkin to grow properly. 
• Perform pruning of the vines when the pumpkin starts growing. This provides adequate space for the pumpkin to grow and expand properly. 

Other than this, gardeners who want to have giant pumpkins can select two or three best pumpkins and harvest the rest of the pumpkins from the garden. This will help the pumpkin to grow bigger and better. 

You can also place a board under the unripped pumpkins. It helps them to grow and expand properly. Moreover, it also helps to protect from insect attack and decay issues. 

All the above growing tips will help you grow big and healthy pumpkins right in your home garden. 

Do you fancy growing vegetables at home, we did write some guides that will help you to grow Brinjal, Broccoli, and Potatoes. 

Before that, you can also check our complete guide on how to grow vegetables at home. 

How to Harvest Pumpkins

Harvesting is the most tedious and time-consuming process, especially when the pumpkin grows to the fullest. Therefore, the best to harvest them is to harvest when they are medium-sized.

In addition to this, you can follow these things to know whether the pumpkin is ready to harvest or not. 

• Pumpkin is ready to harvest when the pumpkin’s skin turns solid, and the color turns orange.
• Test by thumping over the pumpkin. If you feel it is harder, this is the right time to harvest because the pumpkin is completely ripped. You can also do the skin test if it resists tearing, then it is ready for harvesting.
• Harvest the pumpkin during the dry day or when the plant is dead, and skin of the pumpkin become harder. 
• Make sure to cut it properly and leave two inches of the stem into the soil, and let them slowly decay. 
• Cut the fully mature pumpkin off from the vine with the help of a sharp knife. Avoid tearing it with a knife as it may disturb the shelf life. 
• Avoid cutting the pumpkin directly from the crown. It will destroy it. 
• Once you harvest the pumpkin, bruise them properly and keep them gently in a dry place. 

These are some of the pumpkins harvesting tips that you can follow. These tips will ensure that you are cutting a pumpkin from the vine that is ready to harvest and use. 

Also Read: Lemon Tree Growth Stages [8 Steps to Grow Lemon]

Grow Giant Pumpkins in your Yard

So, now you have the complete guide in your hand about how to grow pumpkins in garden areas. So, follow the guide and start growing them in your garden. First, however, you need to take care of the pumpkin during the growing season.

Ensure to spray insecticide and pesticide to get rid of the pest that may harm your crop. Maintain the water and fertilizers during the growing season.

It helps them to grow perfectly. As they can tolerate hot and humid conditions, you don’t need to provide intense care during the frost condition. 

So, what are your thoughts? Would you grow pumpkins in your home garden? Do let us know in the comments section below. Also, if you are already growing pumpkins, mention us the tips that you follow to have a healthy crop.

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