Overfertilizing results in excessive vegetative growth, which can lead to delayed yields and a greater risk for fruit rot and foliar disease. Keep fertilizer off the leaves because it may burn them. While pumpkins respond to an additional side-dressing of nitrogen when the vines begin to run, be careful not to overfertilize. If you do not get a soil test, apply 4–6 pounds of a complete fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 8-24-24 per 100 feet of row 2 weeks before planting. FertilizingĪ soil test will allow you to follow exact fertilizer recommendations. Remember to turn the developing pumpkins once per week to obtain a well-shaped product. Finally, choose the best one or two and remove all others.

Prune off the first few female flowers, then let only a few set to baseball size. To produce larger pumpkins for fun or for local county fairs, plant seeds approximately 120 days before the show date.

Vines may also be trained down the rows by moving the vines in the direction of the row so the middles are kept open and can be cultivated for a longer period. Thin to select the best seedling after they emerge and have grown for 2 weeks. This will take about 0.5 ounce of seed per 100 feet of row. Space hills 2–5 feet apart within the row with 4–8 feet between the rows, depending on the variety selected. Seeds need to be planted 1–1.5 inch deep at a rate of two to three seeds per hill. Best yields are on sandy soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. This can be done with leaf mold or other composted materials. Incorporating organic matter in the soil and building high rows will help with drainage. They will start to die after just 48 hours in waterlogged soils. Pumpkins need a sunny location with well-drained soil. You may also sow the seed directly into the warm garden soil and thin at a later date. Then, thin to one healthy seedling and plant one seedling per hill. Plantingįor more uniform production, start seeds in a container or tray, and allow them to grow until they have three “true” leaves. For Halloween pumpkins, it may be best to plant seed in early to mid-July, depending on the variety. Plantings can also be made during summer as long as they can mature before the first fall frost. In Mississippi, this can begin as early as April. Seeds need a soil temperature of at least 70☏ to germinate. Plant after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has begun to warm. Pumpkins thrive in warm weather and are very frost-sensitive. They are a good source of vitamin A and fiber but are mostly desired for their decorative value. They actually come from a variety of species, including C. They are in the genus Curcurbita and are usually referred to as cucurbits.

They belong to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, along with watermelons, summer squash, and zucchini. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.

Pumpkin plant seedlings