Growing Pumpkins

Pumpkins are sensitive to both cold and heat. In the North, they cannot be planted until settled weather; in the South they do not thrive during midsummer.

Pumpkin is a very tender vegetable. The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Do not plant until all danger of frost has passed, and the soil has thoroughly warmed. Plant pumpkins for Halloween from late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern sites. If pumpkins are planted too early, they may soften and rot before Halloween.

The gardener is seldom justified in devoting any part of a limited garden area to pumpkins, because many other vegetables give greater returns from the same space. However, in gardens where there is plenty of room and where they can follow an early crop like potatoes, pumpkins can often be grown to advantage.

The pumpkin is one of the few vegetables that thrives under partial shade. Therefore it may be grown among sweet corn or other tall plants.

Hills of pumpkins, containing one to two plants, should be at least 10 feet (3 m) apart each way. Pumpkin plants among corn, potato, or other plants usually should be spaced 8 to 10 (3 m) feet apart in every third or fourth row.

Vining pumpkins require a minimum of 50 to 100 square feet (5 to 10 sq m) per hill. Plant seeds one inch deep (four or five seeds per hill). Allow 5 to 6 feet between hills, spaced in rows 10 to 15 feet ( 3 to 4 m) apart. When the young plants are well-established, thin each hill to the best two or three plants.

Plant semi-bush varieties one inch (2.5 cm) deep (four or five seeds per hill) and thin to the best two plants per hill. Allow 4 feet (3.2 m) between hills and 8 feet (2.5 m) between rows.

Plant miniature varieties one inch (2.5 cm) deep, with two or three seeds every 2 feet (60 cm) in the row. Rows should be 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 cm) apart, with seedlings thinned to the best plant every 2 feet (60 cm) when they have their first true leaves.

Plant bush varieties one inch (2.5 cm) deep (1 or 2 seeds per foot (30 cm) of row) and thin to a single plant every 3 feet (1 m). Allow 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) between rows.

Gather and store pumpkins before they are injured by hard frosts. They keep best in a well-ventilated place where the temperature is a little above 50F (10 C).

Pumpkin plants should be kept free from weeds by hoeing and shallow cultivation. Irrigate if an extended dry period occurs in early summer. Pumpkins tolerate short periods of hot, dry weather pretty well.

Bees, that are necessary for pollinating squash and pumpkins, may be killed by insecticides. When insecticides are used, they should be applied only in late afternoon or early evening when the blossoms have closed for the day and bees are no longer visiting the blossoms. As new blossoms open each day and bees land only inside the open blossoms, these pollinating insects should be safe from contact with any potentially deadly sprays.

Pumpkins can be harvested whenever they are a deep, solid color (orange for most varieties) and the rind is hard. If vines remain healthy, harvest in late September or early October, before heavy frosts. If vines die prematurely from disease or other causes, harvest the mature fruit and store them in a moderately warm, dry place until Halloween.

Cut pumpkins from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife and leave 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) of stem attached. Snapping the stems from the vines results in many broken or missing "handles." Pumpkins without stems usually do not keep well. Wear gloves when harvesting fruit because many varieties have sharp prickles on their stems.

Avoid cutting and bruising the pumpkins when handling them. Fruits that are not fully mature or that have been injured or subjected to heavy frost do not keep. Store in a dry building where the temperature is between 50 and 55°F (10 to 13 C).

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