How to Grow Pumpkins From Seeds

 

One of the most rewarding plants to grow in a home garden is Pumpkins. The good thing is that they are very easy to start from seed, and they grow quickly in warm weather, and they also produce large colorful fruits that can be used for cooking, decoration, or even competitions. Actually learning how to grow pumpkins from seeds is very simple if you follow the right steps on this article.

Choosing the Right Pumpkin Variety To Plant

Before planting the pumpkin you need to decide what type of pumpkin you want to grow. There are many varieties of pumpkin that is available, which are:

·  The small pumpkins which is for cooking and pies

·  The medium pumpkins which is for decoration and carving

·  The large pumpkins which is for contests and giant harvests

·  The mini pumpkins which is for ornamental use

Some popular varieties include:

·  The Sugar Pie varieties

·  The Jack O’Lantern varieties

·  The Baby Boo varieties

·  The Atlantic Giant varieties

Make sure you choose the pumpkin seeds from a trusted garden store or a seed company for the best germination results.

Best Time to Plant Pumpkin Plant Seeds

Pumpkin plant seeds actually grow best in warm weather. Pumpkin plant do not tolerate frost, so the planting time is very vital.

The most excellent time to plant pumpkin seed:

·  Plant the pumpkin seed after the last frost date in your area

·  Plant the pumpkin seed when soil temperatures are at least 18°C to 21°C

In warm climates the pumpkin seeds can be planted from late spring to early summer. In cooler regions, start the pumpkin seeds indoors about two to four weeks before transplanting outside.

Pumpkins generally take:

·  Ninety to one hundred and twenty days to mature depending on the variety

Also read: How to Grow Cabbage From Seed

Select the Perfect Growing Location For Planting

Pumpkin plants actually need plenty of sunlight and space to grow properly.

Make sure you choose a location that has:

·  At least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily

·  A good well-draining soil

·  Plenty of room for the vines to spread very well

Pumpkin vines can actually grow very long, sometimes the Pumpkin vines can reach over six meters. If you don’t have enough space you can grow the smaller varieties vertically on strong trellises.

Prepare the Soil For Planting

To grow strong pumpkin plants you need healthy soil.

Pumpkin plants prefer:

·  A goodrich, fertile soil

·  A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0)

Before planting the pumpkin:

1.    Make sure you remove weeds and grass

2.    You need to loosen the soil deeply

3.    Also mix in compost or a well-rotted manure

Adding organic matter will really help to improves drainage and also provides nutrients that the pumpkins need for large fruit production.

A lot of gardeners plant pumpkins in small raised mounds or hills because they actually warm up faster and drain better.

How to Plant Pumpkin Seeds

Like I said earlier planting pumpkin seeds is very easy.

Direct Sowing of The Seed Outdoors

1.    Just make a small hills about thirty centimeter high

2.    Then space the hills about 1.5 to three meters apart

3.    Plant two to four seeds per hill

4.    Sow the pumpkin seeds about two and half centimeter deep

5.    Then cover lightly with soil

6.    Then water them gently

The pumpkin seeds typically germinate within:

·  five to ten days in warm soil

Once the pumpkin seedlings appear and grow a few leaves you can easily thin them to the strongest one or two plants per hill.

Starting The Pumpkin Seeds Indoors

If your growing season is actually short you can start the pumpkin seeds indoors.

The steps:

1.    Just fill the seed pots with a good quality seed-starting mix

2.    Then plant one pumpkin seed per pot

3.    Place the pumpkin seeds about two and half centimeter deep

4.    Then water lightly

5.    Make sure you keep them in a warm bright location

Pumpkin seeds germinate best between: 25 C to 30 C

After the pumpkin seedlings develop several leaves and the outdoor temperatures are warm you can easily transplant them carefully into the garden.

Avoid disturbing the pumpkin plant roots because they dislike transplant shock.

Watering The Pumpkin Plants

Pumpkin plants actually need consistent watering, most especially during flowering and fruit development.

The watering tips:

·  You can water deeply one to two times weekly

·  Make sure you keep the soil moist but not waterlogged

·  Make sure you water at the base of the plant

·  Try and avoid wetting the leaves to reduce disease

Pumpkin plants generally need about:

·  Two and half to five centimeter of water per week

When the weather is very hot, you may actually need to water more frequently.

Mulching Around the Pumpkin Plants

Mulch actually helps the pumpkin plants stay healthy.

The benefits of mulch are:

·  Help to retain the soil moisture

·  Help to reduce weeds

·  Help to Keep the fruits cleaner

·  Help to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly

You can use:

·  Dry grass clippings

·  Leaves

·  Compost

·  Straw

You can spread mulch around the pumpkin plants once the soil becomes warm.

Fertilizing the Pumpkin Plants

Pumpkin plants are heavy feeders and they require plenty of nutrients.

The Fertilizing schedule:

·  You can add compost before planting

·  You can use a balanced fertilizer during early growth

·  You can switch to phosphorus and potassium-rich fertilizer once the flowers appear

Too much nitrogen can easily cause:

·  An excessive leaf growth

·  A fewer pumpkins

You can organic fertilizers like compost tea or fish emulsion, they also work well.

Pollination of Pumpkin Plant Flowers

Pumpkin plants produce:

·  A male flowers

·  A female flowers

A lot of bees and other pollinators transfer pollen between flowers. Without pollination the pumpkin plants will not develop properly.

The female flowers can be easily identified by the small swelling behind the flower, which actually later becomes the pumpkin.

How to encourage pollination:

·  Make sure you avoid spraying pesticides during flowering

·  Plant the flowers nearby in other to attract bees

If pollination is actually poor you can easily hand-pollinate by transferring the pollen from male flowers to female flowers using a good small brush.

Also read: How to Grow Peppers From Seeds

Common Pumpkin Plant Problems

Pests on Pumpkin Plant

Some of the common pumpkin pests are:

·  Squash bugs

·  Cucumber beetles

·  Vine borers

·  Aphids

You can control pests by:

·  Inspecting the pumpkin plants frequently

·  Removing the insects by hand from the pumpkin plant

·  Using a natural insecticides if necessary

Diseases on Pumpkin Plant

Pumpkin plants may suffer from:

·  Downy mildew

·  Root rot

·  Powdery mildew

You can prevent diseases by:

·  Watering the pumpkin plant at the soil level

·  Providing good air circulation for the pumpkin plant

·  Also avoiding overcrowding

Make sure you always remove infected leaves immediately to stop the spread.

Supporting Growing Pumpkin Plants

As the pumpkin plants grow larger, support may be required.

If the pumpkin is growing vertically:

·  You can use strong trellises

·  You can support the fruits with fabric slings

For ground-grown pumpkin plants:

·  You can place cardboard, straw, or wood under the fruits

·  This will help to prevents rotting and insect damage

How Long Do Pumpkin Plants Take to Grow?

Most pumpkin plants are actually ready to harvest within:

·  Ninety to one hundred and twenty days after planting

The plant growth speed actually depends on:

·  Variety of the plant

·  Weather condition

·  The soil quality use for planting

·  The water availability

Warm sunny conditions help pumpkin plants to actually grow faster.

Harvesting Pumpkins

Pumpkins are actually ready for harvest when:

·  The skin of the plant becomes hard

·  The color of the plant is deep and uniform

·  The stem of the plant begins drying

·  The fruit of the plant sounds hollow when they are tapped

You can use sharp garden scissors or pruning shears to cut the pumpkins from the vine.

Leave:

·  Five to ten centimeter of stem attached

Don’t ever carry the pumpkins by the stem because it may break off.

Curing and Storing Pumpkins

After harvesting you can easily cure the pumpkins to improve storage life.

To cure pumpkins:

1.    You need to place them in a warm dry area

2.    You need to keep them there for seven to fourteen days

3.    You need to make sure there is good air circulation

Properly cured pumpkins can actually last:

·  some weeks to several months

Store the pumpkins in:

·  A cool dry places

·  A temperatures that is around 10°C to 15°C

Make sure you avoid storing them in damp conditions.