A Complete Guide to Growing Pumpkins

Few things are as gratifying as seeing your homegrown pumpkin patch ready for harvesting. From enjoying the earthy sweetness of fresh-baked pumpkin pie to carving your DIY Halloween Jack-O-Lantern, pumpkins are a quintessential autumn staple. This post covers all you’ll need to know about growing pumpkins, as well as the best methods for harvesting and storing them.

Many gardeners ask, “How long do pumpkins take to grow?” Pumpkin plants have a relatively long growing season and are harvested in mid to late autumn. Expect between 75-100 days from planting seeds to maturity, depending on the variety. You can rest assured that the final results are worth the wait.

Aside from providing vivid fall decor, pumpkins are fabulously nutritious. They’re an outstanding source of plant-based protein, antioxidants, beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Incorporating fresh pumpkins into your diet can enhance immunity, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Pumpkin also improves eye, heart, and skin health. Keep reading to discover how to grow pumpkins in your home garden and keep them thriving throughout the growing season.

Fundamental Tips for Growing Pumpkins

Growing pumpkins is straightforward with the right environmental conditions. Like other types of gourds and squash, pumpkin plants flourish in full sun with six or more hours of direct sunlight daily.

Pumpkins tend to be thirsty plants and want consistently moist soil. Give the plants approximately one inch of water each week or more during especially dry or hot weather.

Pollination is critical for a satisfactory pumpkin harvest. The plants produce separate male and female flowers. The male flowers often emerge first and have a central stamen that generates pollen. Female flowers feature a pistil to receive the pollen and a small, round node at their base that develops into fruit after pollination. Companion planting with aromatic herbs and flowers near your pumpkin patch helps to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Most pumpkin cultivars grow long, sprawling vines that sometimes spread up to 25 feet. If you have limited garden space, select compact varieties or train the vines to climb up a trellis.

Pumpkins are winter squash native to Mexico and Central America. They’re part of the Cucurbitaceae plant family, along with cucumbers, melons, gourds, and squash. They grow quickly and occupy a lot of garden space unless the long vines get pruned or trellised. Read on to discover more about these techniques.

There are over 50 different pumpkin varieties, from miniature ones to giant pumpkins, and unusual colors like white and green. Choose types that best suit your intended uses and available garden space. It’s also fun to try uncommon varieties. Here are a few ideal pumpkin cultivars to plant.

Best Pumpkin Varieties for Home Gardens

• Bellatrix (hybrid, 9-12 foot vines, orange rind/flesh, 15-25 pound pumpkins, produces 6-10 pumpkins per plant, excellent flavor, drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, 90-100 days to harvest)
• Casper (heirloom, 2-4 foot vines, white rind with deep orange flesh, 10-20 pound pumpkins, produces 3-6 pumpkins per plant, sweet flavor, 90-120 days to harvest)
• Cherokee Bush (heirloom, bush variety, 4-5 feet tall and wide, orange rind with golden flesh, 4-6 pound fruits, produces 3-6 pumpkins per plant, excellent flavor, disease-resistant, 60-75 days to harvest)
• Cinderella (heirloom, 8-10 foot vines, red-orange rind with golden flesh, 15-30 pound pumpkins, produces 3-6 fruits per plant, excellent flavor, 105-115 days to harvest)
• Dill’s Atlantic Giant (heirloom, 10-20 foot vines, yellow-orange rind/flesh, produces one giant pumpkin up to 200+ pounds, earthy flavor, 110-120 days to harvest)
• Early Sweet Sugar Pie (heirloom, 8-15 foot vines, orange rind/flesh, 6-7 pound fruits, produces 3-6 pumpkins per plant, super-sweet flavor, stores well, 90-100 days to harvest)
• Jack Be Little (heirloom, 3-5 foot vines, orange rind/flesh, 4-8 ounce miniature pumpkins, produces 6-10 fruits per plant, citrusy flavor, ideal for container gardening, 90-100 days to harvest)
• Jarrahdale (heirloom, 10-15 foot vines, blue-green rind with orange flesh, 6-12 pound fruits, produces 3-6 pumpkins per plant, sweet flavor, stores well, 100-110 days to harvest)
• Pepitas (hybrid, 10-15 food vines, green and gold rind with orange flesh, 9-12 pound pumpkins, 6-8 fruits per plant, ideal for baking, disease-resistant, 90-100 days to harvest)
• Red Warty Thing (heirloom, 10-15 foot vines, bumpy red-orange skin with bright orange flesh, produces 1-2 fruits per plant, 10-20 pound pumpkins, mild flavor, stores well, 100-110 days to harvest)

Growing Pumpkins from Seed

In most northern zones, gardeners prefer to get a head start on the growing season by starting pumpkin seeds indoors two or three weeks before the expected last frost date. However, it’s best to direct-sow pumpkin seeds in milder climates once the soil temperature is consistently above 70℉.

Fill your seedling trays, peat pots, or a cardboard egg carton with a seed-starting potting soil mix. Plant pumpkin seeds one inch deep, then loosely cover them with more soil. Next, carefully saturate the soil using a spray bottle. Protect the soil surface with a humidity dome or sheet of plastic to hold in moisture.

Germination typically takes between five and ten days. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 80-85°F. The seeds will not germinate below 60°F. It’s helpful to use a heat mat to maintain consistent soil warmth during germination and as the seedlings develop.

Once your pumpkin seedlings begin to sprout, move them to a south-facing windowsill that gets a minimum of six hours of bright light throughout the day. Rotate them every few days to encourage strong stems. If you don’t have a sunny location available, consider putting them under a grow light to prevent the young plants from growing elongated or “leggy.”

Preparing Your Pumpkin Planting Site

Pumpkin plants grow best in nutrient-rich, well-draining garden soil. Many people prefer growing pumpkins in raised hills or mounds. Doing so provides better drainage and helps to keep the soil warmer.

Like most other fruiting plants, pumpkins prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. Adding composted pine needles, pine sawdust, or peat moss to your garden soil gradually lowers the pH level. If you’re unsure of your soil pH, contact your local extension service for a soil test.

Several weeks ahead of planting pumpkins, lay down several inches of organic compost or well-rotted manure and cover your planting area with dark-colored mulch. Doing so adds valuable nutrients to the earth and warms the ground.

Ensure that your pumpkin plants have enough space to spread out and provide adequate airflow. Spacing between each pumpkin mound should be two to three feet or more for larger cultivars. Read the seed packet or nursery label for variety-specific planting recommendations.

How Long Do Pumpkins Take to Grow?

Pumpkins’ growing season length depends on the variety. Larger types take longer to mature than smaller ones. Most pumpkins are ready to harvest within 75-100 days of planting seeds. Subtract two or three weeks when transplanting nursery-grown seedlings.

In most northern climates, the best time to transplant pumpkin seedlings is late May or early June, after the last danger of frost. In the south-eastern United States, many gardeners wait until early July to plant pumpkins to avoid problematic pests like squash vine borers.

Best Pumpkin Fertilizer

Pumpkin plants are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilizing throughout the growing season. Plant fertilizer contains three fundamental macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen promotes leaf growth, phosphorus encourages robust root systems, and potassium boosts fruiting and flowering processes.

When transplanting your pumpkin seedlings, place one tablespoon of organic, all-purpose fertilizer into the planting hole. Once the plants start flowering, use a fertilizer with higher phosphorus and potassium.

Apply slow-release granular fertilizer every four to six weeks until the plants begin to go dormant in late summer or early fall. If you prefer liquid plant food, mix it with water according to the instructions on the product label and feed your plants every two to three weeks.

Caring for Pumpkin Plants

Pumpkin plants are relatively low-maintenance once they become established. For the first several weeks after transplanting, protect the tender seedlings from insects and frost damage using floating row covers or a cold frame. Make sure to uncover them when the plant begins flowering to allow access for pollinators.

Use organic materials like bark chips, leaf litter, grass clippings, pine needles, or straw as mulch around your pumpkin plants’ base. Mulching keeps the soil insulated, protects against erosion, holds moisture, and minimizes weed growth.

Pumpkin plants have shallow root systems and suffer when competing for space, nutrients, and water with weeds. Take care when weeding to avoid accidentally damaging the sensitive roots.

Avoid letting pumpkin plants dry out. Wilted leaves and vines often lead to inferior fruit production. However, it’s equally as critical not to overwater. If the soil gets oversaturated, the roots cannot absorb adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients.

Some growers prefer pruning off the ends of their pumpkin vines once the plant develops three or four fruits per branch. Doing so encourages more robust fruit production by directing the plant’s energy toward the developing fruit instead leaf and vine growth. Similarly, removing the first few sets of flowers will help the plant concentrate energy on its vines and roots, so they’re better suited for bearing fruit.

Once your pumpkins grow larger, place a thin board or piece of cardboard underneath the fruits to lower the risk of rot and insect damage. It’s also beneficial to carefully rotate the pumpkins a quarter-turn every few weeks for a more uniform shape.

Growing Pumpkins on a Trellis

If you don’t have the space for a large pumpkin patch, or if you’re growing pumpkins in containers, consider training the vines to climb a trellis. Growing pumpkins vertically saves garden space and lowers the risk of pest damage and fungal diseases.

Construct your trellis frame from high-quality, sturdy materials that can support the weight of heavy pumpkins. While smaller varieties are relatively easy to trellis, you can also grow medium-sized pumpkins vertically.

At first, use flexible plant ties to loosely attach the vines to your lattice as they grow and assist the curly tendrils in wrapping around the framework. To support heavier pumpkins, tie large pieces of flexible fabric to the trellis supports like hammocks to hold up the fruits. It’s a perfect way to repurpose old T-shirts or pantyhose.

Harvesting and Storing Homegrown Pumpkins

Harvest your pumpkins in mid to late fall when they’ve fully matured. Ripe pumpkins have a hardened rind, and the stem should start to pull away from the fruit’s top. The leaves and vines wither and die back by this point.

Test whether your pumpkins are ripe by firmly tapping the rind. If it feels rigid and has a hollow sound, it’s ready for picking. Or, press a fingernail into the hull. If you pierce it, wait a little longer before harvesting.

Harvest your pumpkins before your area’s expected first frost date. It’s best to harvest during dry weather if possible.

Cut the stem several inches above where it meets the fruit with sterile, sharp pruners. Leaving the stem intact lengthens the pumpkin’s storage time. Handle pumpkins gently and try to avoid bruising them. Wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting to prevent skin irritation from the prickly vines and stems.it

Pumpkins must get cured before long-term storage to seal the stem and toughen the rind. When possible, it’s best to cure pumpkins outdoors in the sun for seven to ten days. If you’re experiencing a wet fall, bring them indoors to cure in a warm, dry location.

Store your homegrown pumpkins in a dry, cool location. Arrange them so that their rinds don’t touch to facilitate adequate airflow. Cured pumpkins keep for up to three months under ideal conditions.

It’s best to use fresh pumpkin within three days after slicing it open. Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container. Freezing is an excellent way to extend your fresh pumpkin’s shelf life. Frozen pumpkin cubes or purée last for up to eight months.

Pumpkin seeds are also edible and exceptionally nutritious. They’re a fantastic source of antioxidants, protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin K.

Use pumpkin seeds in baked goods, as a salad or soup garnish, ground up for a fish or meat crust, or roasted and seasoned as a healthy and flavorful snack. You can also make pumpkin seed butter, a tasty and unusual gluten and nut-free spread with a rich green color.

Solutions for Pest and Disease Issues

It’s vital to routinely check your plants for damage from pests and signs of plant disease. The best pest control approach is to provide plants with appropriate light, nutrients, and water levels and cultivate a healthy soil microbiome. Healthy plants are more resilient against attacks from pathogens and insects.

Common insect pests for pumpkin plants include cucumber beetles, squash bugs, aphids, and squash vine borers. To combat a severe infestation, spray all plant parts with an organic insecticide like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or horticultural oil. Keep insects from laying their eggs on the tender seedlings with a cold frame or floating row covers throughout the spring and early summer.

However, it’s crucial to remember that pollinators and beneficial predatory insects also get affected by insecticides. Be mindful of targeting only the plants with a serious problem. Try to use cultural controls like companion planting and natural repellents to minimize pest populations whenever possible.

Squash plants sometimes suffer from fungal diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spot, and rust. These diseases spread quickly in warm, damp conditions. Spores often travel via splashing water. Provide ample air circulation through proper plant spacing and use a soaker hose or drip irrigation when watering to keep the leaves dry. Find out more about controlling Cucurbit pests and diseases in this article from the University of Minnesota Extension.

If you think you don’t have enough garden space to grow pumpkins, think again! From a huge patch of prize-winning giant pumpkins to adorable miniature pumpkins growing in a patio pot, the options for growing pumpkins are endless. How long pumpkins take to grow depends on which variety you’d like to grow. The plants require fertile soil, full sun, consistent moisture levels, and a bit of patience.

Do you have any recommendations or questions about growing pumpkins at home? Please share them in the comments! If you found these gardening tips helpful, feel free to share this post about how to grow pumpkins with your fellow gardening enthusiasts.