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PLANTING PUMPKINS FOR FALL HARVEST
Start now for a colorful crop.
1. Where to plant
As you may know, pumpkins grow on vines, which means they can take up a lot of space. I always plant my pumpkins in roomy beds that will accommodate large crops of big, colorful fruits. However, if you have a small patch of land, you can still plant pumpkins. For smaller beds, look for miniature varieties, where you buy your seeds, and consider growing pumpkins on a trellis.
2. When to plant
Pumpkins are one of the last crops we plant because the soil must be thoroughly warmed to at least 70-degrees Fahrenheit – pumpkins are very sensitive to the cold. Planting now will ensure a plentiful crop this fall!
3. How to plant
Pumpkins do best when the seeds are planted directly into the ground. Pumpkins prefer rich soil that is well-drained and not soggy – I use nutrient rich Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil. We plant our pumpkins in “hills”, which allows the soil to warm more quickly, encouraging the seeds to germinate faster.
Plant about five or six seeds in each spot, with each seed about an inch to an inch and a half deep into the soil. Sow seeds 6 to 12 inches apart. Pumpkin seeds should sprout within seven to 10-days from planting. When plants reach 3 inches tall, thin seedlings to 18 – 36 inches apart.
After planting, the hills are covered in hay. Hay mulch enhances the look of the garden, avoids muddiness in the paths, and keeps the pumpkins off the earth. This patch will soon be full of colorful pumpkins.
4. Care
Seed orientation makes no difference to germination or growth. The important thing is to keep them consistently moist. Pumpkins are 80 to 90-percent water depending on the variety, and adequate moisture is crucial for healthy, productive plants. Pumpkins prefer rich soil that is well-drained, but not soggy. A soaker hose is an effective way to keep them watered; if you don’t have one, water regularly at the base of the vine, avoiding getting the foliage wet.
5. Feeding
To give your pumpkins plenty of nourishment during the growing season, try using a time-release fertilizer. Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Extended Boost is a good choice.
What pumpkins are you planting this season?
I always try to grow different and unusual specimens along with more traditional varieties which I love to display on the stone walls and steps around my house. Here are some of my favorites.
Here is a traditional orange Cargo pumpkin—great for Halloween carving
This pumpkin has dark green skin. Green pumpkins range from dusky-green heirlooms to mottled or striped varieties and are select cultivars of round Curcubita winter squash with green-colored skin.
‘Speckled Hound’ is an eye-catching, orange pumpkin with green splotches and thick, dense flesh. After displaying the pumpkins in the fall, it’s nice to scoop out the seeds – they’re delicious roasted.
This type of pumpkin is called a knucklehead, and as the name suggests, is reminiscent of the knuckles on one’s hand.
Red kuri squash is a thin-skinned orange colored winter squash. Inside the hard outer skin there is a firm flesh with a very delicate and mellow chestnut-like flavor.
Article by Martha Stewart, as part of the Growing with Martha Stewart partnership.
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