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Quick guide
- Pumpkins are members of the cucurbit family, which includes squash, zucchini, melons, gourds and cucumbers.
- Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins have stringy, bland flesh, while pie pumpkins have smaller, sweeter fruit.
- Sow seed in the garden in late May to early June, or start seeds indoors in late April.
- Pick pumpkins before a hard freeze.
Soil
- Have your soil tested.
- For best yield and quality, the soil pH range for vine crops is between 6.0 and 6.5, which is slightly acidic.
- Apply phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) according to soil test recommendations.
- You can improve your soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall. Do not use fresh manure as it may contain harmful bacteria and may increase weed problems.
- Pumpkins do well in heavier soils, although more fruit belly rot may occur.
- The soil should be moisture retentive yet well drained.
- Forming raised beds will ensure good drainage, which these crops require.
Fertilizer
- Use a low- or no-phosphorus fertilizer.
- Side dress with fertilizer when the plants begin to spread out their vines, using ½ cup of 46-0-0, or 1 cup of 27-3-3 for each 100 feet of row.
- Do not use “Weed and Feed” type fertilizers on vegetables. They contain weed killers that will kill vegetable plants.
Types
Pumpkins come from different species; jack-o’-lantern, pie pumpkins, and extremely large pumpkins grown for competition and decoration. Pumpkins are among the most popular vine crops in the garden. These plants are all closely related members of the cucurbit family, which also includes squash, zucchini, melons, gourds and cucumbers.
Seedling
You can seed vine crops directly into the garden, but they need warm soils (65°F at 2″ soil depth) to germinate properly. Planting is typically in late May to early June. Plant pumpkin seeds three-fourths of an inch deep, 24-36 inches apart. Use the closer spacing if the variety is a bush type. Spacing between rows should be five to six feet apart.
Transplanting
- Plant seeds into pots or cells at least two inches wide and deep.
- The seedlings take about four weeks from seeding to transplanting. They should have two to three true leaves at the time of transplanting.
- Harden off seedlings started indoors before planting them in the garden.
- Transplant pumpkins into the soil when soil temperatures reach at least 65°F.
- Plant transplants after removing the first growth of weeds. Keep weed growth later in the season to a minimum.
Watering
- Vine crops need at least one inch of water each week, from rainfall or irrigation, during the growing season.
- Always soak the soil thoroughly when watering.
- Water sandy soils more frequently, but with lower amounts applied each time.
- Use a drip hose, soaker hose or careful watering of the soil, so that the leaves stay dry. Do not use a sprinkler or spray the plants with a regular hose.
- Trellised plants growing vertically may require watering more often.
Weeds
- Frequent, shallow cultivation with a hoe or hand tool will kill weeds before they become a problem.
- Vine crops have roots close to the surface of the soil, so it is important not to cultivate too deeply or too close to the plants.
- Scratch the soil with a hoe just deeply enough to cut the weeds off below the surface of the soil.
- Continue cultivating as long as you can do so without injuring the vines. When cultivation is no longer possible, pull large weeds by hand.
- If you use mulch such as straw or compost to help control weeds, do not apply it until the soil is at least 75°F. These mulches can slow soil warming.
Harvest
- Pick pumpkins before a hard freeze. A light frost that kills the vine will usually not harm the fruit. Cut the fruit from the vine, leaving a few inches of stem attached. Be careful not to cut or bruise the fruit.
- After cutting pumpkins from the vines, you should field-cure them in place for a week or two in dry, sunny weather. This method will dry and toughen the skin for longer storage. If the weather has turned cold or rainy, you can cure squash indoors in a warm (80°F), well-ventilated space.
Storage
- Pumpkins used as autumn decorations are vulnerable to cold, wet weather, so they can easily spoil. Monitor the condition of the fruits and discard them when they start to show signs of rot.
- You can preserve pumpkins by drying slices in a dehydrator, freezing or canning cubes in a pressure canner.
Source: https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/pumpkins-and-winter-squash
