![]() If both seeds germinate, snip the weaker one at the base once the seedlings are between 2 and 3 inches tall. Plant 2 pumpkin seeds per hole when starting seeds indoors. Pumpkin seeds can be started in traditional plastic trays or peat pots to minimize root damage during transplanting. You can sow pumpkin seeds indoors several weeks before your area’s last frost date. Gardeners living in colder climates can ensure a healthy harvest by starting pumpkin seeds indoors in early spring! Pumpkins require a fairly long growing season to mature on the vine. Plant pumpkin seeds in holes 1 to 1½ inch deep. Once the seedlings emerge, thin the plants to be at least 18 inches apart. When planting pumpkins, rows should be spaced at least 6 feet apart. To grow pumpkins in rows: Sow seeds in holes 6 to 12 inches apart. When the seedlings reach at least 2 inches in height, thin out the pumpkin plants so that there are 2 or 3 left per hill. The hills themselves should be spaced 4 to 8 feet apart. Each hill should contain at least 5 seeds. To grow pumpkins in hills: Create up to 3 holes at least 12 inches apart. Row covers can be used to protect young pumpkin plants from unseasonably cold temperatures, especially at night. A soil temperature of at least 70☏ will improve germination. Pumpkin plants (and their seeds) do not tolerate frost or excessively cold temperatures.Įnsure the soil temperature is above 65☏ before sowing pumpkin seeds in the garden. Temperatureĭon’t be fooled by the pumpkin’s winter squash classification. Loosen the soil directly below each hill (at least 1 foot deep) to improve drainage and root health. The recommended size for pumpkin hills is at least 6 inches tall and 36 inches wide. This technique improves drainage and raises the soil temperature around the pumpkins’ roots. Many gardeners opt to grow pumpkins on small dirt hills. Incorporating compost into your garden bed will also improve overall drainage. Aged compost (or another rich, organic fertilizer) should always be distributed into the soil prior to planting pumpkin seeds.Īlthough pumpkins love moisture, well-draining soil is still a must. Pumpkin plants consume a ton of nutrients in order to support their massive size. A good strategy is to plant pumpkins along the edge of your vegetable patch and direct the vines to grow outward. Standard pumpkin varieties need between 50 and 100 square feet at a minimum. Select a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Pumpkins need plenty of sun and lots of room to sprawl! These are the two most important factors to consider when choosing a spot to sow pumpkin seeds. Others are grown because they boast interesting shapes, colors, and textures.Īlways ask yourself what you plan to do with your pumpkin harvest and select seeds based on those goals! How To Start Pumpkins From Seed Some varieties are advertised specifically for carving. Of course, pumpkins aren’t just grown for eating. If you want to grow pumpkins for use in the kitchen, opt for a “sugar” or “pie” variety. ![]() However, there are many varieties that are unappetizing at best. You shouldn’t just plant any old pumpkin seeds (unless you don’t care at all what type of pumpkin appears in your garden).Īll pumpkins are technically edible. The one thing you should keep in mind is that most pumpkins take up more space than other squash varieties (and the seeds should be sown accordingly). Semantics aside, there’s little difference in growing a pumpkin from seed versus a squash. Meanwhile, other squash varieties have soft or hollow stems. Pumpkins are loosely defined as winter squash with hard, woody stems. To put it simply, a pumpkin is a type of squash - winter squash, to be exact. This is because all pumpkins are squash but not all squash are pumpkins! “Squash” and “pumpkin” are not interchangeable. If you can meet this need, however, they are remarkably simple to grow. Yes, pumpkin plants require a lot of space. Planting several seeds per hole in your garden will guarantee you don’t waste any time waiting for duds to germinate in the spring.Īs far as how many pumpkin seeds per hole you should plant, most gardeners recommend planting at least 2 per hole. While pumpkins grow quickly, the fruit still takes several months to mature. Have you ever wanted to grow your own pumpkins in time for Halloween festivities or Thanksgiving desserts? It might be easier than you think!
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