How to Grow Pumpkins at Home (From Seeds)

If you want to grow pumpkins at home, this article is for you. You can grow beautiful pumpkins of all shapes and sizes with patience and the right know-how.

We’ll walk you through the basics of growing pumpkins from seeds, from preparing the soil to planting and caring for the plants.

When to Plant

Ideally, pumpkins should be grown from late spring to early summer (late May to early July). This is because pumpkins are a warm-season crop and grow best in warm weather.

How to Plant Pumpkin Seeds

The secret to successfully growing pumpkins from seeds is ensuring that the planting spot (field) gets full sun and the soil is not soggy. Now, get your seeds.

If you take the seeds from a fresh pumpkin, clean them and wash them. Next, air-dry them on a paper napkin or paper towel.

You can always use store-bought seeds if you do not want to go through that messy process. However, soak the pumpkin seeds for 8 to 12 hours before planting.

Afterward, plant the seeds one inch deep, three feet apart. Next, water the area well.

You will want to avoid letting the topsoil dry out completely, but you also don’t want too much water. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet.

Growing in Pots

You can grow pumpkins in containers if they are big enough. We recommend using one that is at least 20 inches deep and 24 inches wide.

Use a quality potting mix that holds moisture well. Add compost to the mix to give your plants a nutrient boost.

You’ll also need to water them more often than if you were growing them outside in the ground.

How Long Do They Take To Grow?

Depending on the variety, pumpkins take about 90 to 120 days to grow.

That said, there are some things you can do to help them grow a little faster. For example, it is vital to plant them in a sunny spot and water them regularly.

Adding compost or manure to the soil will also boost its nutrients.

Fertilizer Requirements

It’s important to fertilize them regularly. This will give the pumpkin plants all the nutrients they need.

At first, use a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer. Then, when the pumpkins start to form, switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer.

Fish emulsion is an excellent organic fertilizer. It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and other micronutrients, and your pumpkin plants will thrive with it.

Apply it every two weeks or so.

Watering Needs

To grow big, healthy pumpkins, it is essential to water them regularly and ensure the soil is always moist but not wet.

You can test this by sticking your finger in the soil. If it’s wet, it’s too moist. If it’s dry, then it needs more water.

Watering requirements will depend on a few factors, such as the weather, the type of soil you have, and how much water the plants get from rain.

As a general rule of thumb, try to water your pumpkin plants once a day.

Pest Problems

Pumpkins are delicious targets for many pests, so protecting them is essential. Common pests that affect pumpkins include aphids, squash vine borers, thrips, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles [1].

Please do some research so you can identify these garden pests and learn how best to control them.

Plant Diseases

One common disease that affects pumpkins is powdery mildew. Another is anthracnose. Other common ones include the squash mosaic virus, bacterial wilt, southern blight, and Septoria leaf spot.

Don’t waste time or wait until it’s too late. Read up on these various plant diseases and take action as soon as possible.

Why Are Pumpkin Flowers Falling Off?

Pumpkins are a great autumn addition to any garden, but sometimes, their flowers fall off too soon. This can be frustrating since so much work went into growing them.

But you can help the flowers stay on the plant a little longer. First, avoid overwatering them, which can cause them to wilt and fall prematurely.

Second, allow your plants to get enough sunlight. The recommended amount is at least 6 hours of sunshine daily to produce flowers.

High temperatures can also cause the pumpkin flowers to dry up. While the plants like plenty of sunlight, too much heat can cause the flowers to shrivel and die. Row covers can help in this case.

If you’re still having problems with the flowers falling off, the cause could be poor pollination.

Try using a pollinator like bees or butterflies to help transfer pollen from male flowers to female ones. You could also remove the male blossom yourself and rub the stamen of the female blossom.

How to Harvest Pumpkins

When you think the pumpkin is big enough, knock on it. If you hear a hollow sound, then it is ripe and ready.

You can also look at the color. Depending on the hue it is supposed to have, it is mature when it is fully colored.

Once those requirements are met, it’s time to harvest them! To do so, cut the fruit off the vine with a sharp object, like a knife.

If you save your pumpkins for later use, you must cure them. This is done by leaving them to dry in a sunny spot for about two weeks.

After they’ve been cured, you can store them in a cool place, such as your garage.

Takeaway

Growing pumpkins in your backyard is a fun, rewarding experience that can provide food for your family and decorations for your home. Follow the simple steps in this guide to successfully grow pumpkins at home.