How to grow Pumpkin?

The Pumpkin is actually a large winter squash that grows on a vine. They come in many shapes, sizes and colors. The internal flesh can be cooked and used for many recipes, and is especially delicious in pumpkin pie. The seeds are all edible and great roasted. The Winter Squash get their name not because they can be grown in winter (they are not at all hardy), but because they store well and were traditionally eaten during the winter. They are usually grown with summer squashes, but are cured and stored after harvesting.

Videos

Pumpkin History

Pumpkins are true native Americans and have been cultivated here for at least 5000 years. Native Americans roasted pumpkins on the open fire and ate them.The name 'pumpkin' originated from the Greek work for "large melon" which is "Pepon". When Europeans arrived in the Americas they began carving pumpkins and using them as a "Jack 'o' Lanterns".

Soil Preference

PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.0
PH Ideal (min/max): 6.3 - 6.5

These are quite hungry plants and need a soil that is loose, fertile, moisture retentive and rich in organic matter. They dislike saline or acidic soils.

How to care for Pumpkin?

Pumpkins are quite frost tender and can't be planted until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.

These are vigorous and robust plants. If they are well fed and watered, they can compete with almost any plant.

The plants need an evenly moist soil for maximum productivity.

The best way to water Squash is with drip irrigation, or a soaker hose used near the soil, as wet foliage can easily lead to fungus diseases.

High nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous. Squash have a very vigorous root system, which may dig 6' underground in its search for nutrients.

Seed Viability: 3 to 6 years

Germination Percentage: 75.0

Squash are cross-pollinated by insects and all the varieties of Summer and Winter Squash can cross pollinate. This means you have to either hand pollinate them or isolate by 1/2 mile. You should save the seed from at least 5 plants to ensure enough genetic variability.

Hand pollination isn't as complicated as you might imagine. Go out in the evening and find some male and female flowers that are about to open the following day and tape them shut with 3/4" masking tape. The next day you open a male flower (from a different plant) and remove its petals. You then carefully open the female flower without damaging the petals, brush the pollen-laden anthers from the male on to the pistil lobes of the female and then tape it closed again (to prevent further pollination).

This procedure should work about 50 to 75% of the time. It works even better if 2 males flowers are used to pollinate each female. You will soon know if this has worked because a successfully pollinated flower will swell rapidly (mark it carefully so it isn't accidentally harvested). If pollination wasn't successful the flower will soon fall off.

You must then leave the fertilized squash to mature fully on the vine. This will slow down further fruit production, or may even stop it altogether. When the fruit is fully ripe it will get woody like a Winter Squash.

It takes time for the fruit to ripen fully, so allow plenty of time before frost - at least 60 days. You then clean the ripe seed, dry it thoroughly and store in a cool dry place.

Sun: min. 6 hours daily

Full sun.

Conditions:Warm, Hot

Season:Short Season, Long Season

Cure for 2 weeks in a warm place (80 to 90° F) and then store at around 50 to 60° F and 60 to 70% humidity. They may last 6 months or more in storage, which is why they were once important for self-sufficient farmers.

Storage Req: Cool
Storage Temp: 50-60°F
Storage Length: 1-180 days

Problems

Powdery Mildew

If you live in a moist area, your squash plants may be badly affected by Powdery Mildew. If white dust-like spots begin to appear on your squash leaves, chances are likely it's Powdery Mildew. Powdery Mildrew is a fungal disease, spread through the wind. Keeping your plants protected is difficult, so acting quickly is a good way to ensure you get a good harvest!

Dealing With Powdery Mildew: You can spray the leaves with a homemade mixture of 1 tsp baking soda and 1 quart water. Or, if plants are large enough, remove the infected leaves from the garden. Do not use these leaves in your compost! It will only spread more disease!

Pumpkin Types

Small

Small pumpkins are the smallest variety of pumpkins and are within the species maxima.

A mix of Pumpkins of various shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are edible, some are ornamental.

Giant

Cucurbita maxima are the largest type of pumpkins and were originally cultivated through the efforts of experimental farmers in the early 19th century, from the hubbard squash crossed with kabocha pumpkins. They are now grown all over the US to be used as jack-o-lanterns, and often entered in regional contests for size and weight. This type varies greatly in shape, size and color.

Specialty

Specialty pumpkins have been bred for various traits by blending traits from different pumpkin and other winter squash varieties, to give traditionally orange pumpkins different colored skins, such as blue or white, or to decrease the size to make cute little decorative pumpkins.

Medium to Large

Medium to Large pumpkins typically have an orange shell with creases from the stem to the bottom. Typically these types of pumpkins are stringy and generally only grown for use as jack-o-lanterns or decoration, although there are some varieties that can be stewed and canned or used in pies.

Small (pie)

Pie pumpkins are typically sweeter, smaller, and have a more fine-grained texture than larger jack-o-lantern pumpkins, which makes them perfect for cooking.

Pests

Squash Bug
Cucumber Beetle
Nematodes
Aphids
Blister Beetle
Deer
Gophers
Leafhoppers
Leafminers
Squash Vine Borers
Mealybug

Diseases

Anthracnose
Bacterial Wilt
Damping Off
Downy Mildew
Angular Leaf Spot
Alternaria Blight
Black Rot
Powdery Mildew

Get your Garden

What's Smart Gardener ?

The easiest way to plan, grow and harvest your own food....

It's an online vegetable garden planner for anyone who wants homegrown, healthy and tasty food to be part of their lifestyle...while having a busy life.

Find out more...

Join Now

Try it out!
Explore Maggies Garden...