How to Sow and Grow Pumpkins

Pumpkins are a super fun and rewarding crop to grow in your garden, perfect for everything from autumn decorations to delicious soups and pies.

Sowing Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkins can be really fast growing plants so you want to sow your seeds roughly around a month before you want to plant them out.

• Timing: As pumpkins can be really fast growing don’t be too tempted to sow your pumpkin seeds too soon. We recommend sowing between April-June.
• Planting out: Plant out after all risk of frost has passed into a sunny position.

Watering and Nutrition

Pumpkins require consistent moisture but they don’t like waterlogged soil. 

• Watering: Water deeply once a week, making sure the water penetrates down to the roots. Avoid watering the foliage to prevent mildew and fungal diseases.
• Nutrition: Pumpkins can be very hungry plants so when planting out bear in mind they will want to be somewhere with a lot of nutrition. If needed you can pile extra compost where you plant them to make sure they are well fed.

Pumpkin Paintbox

Mulching and Weed Control

• Mulch: Applying mulch around the base of the plants can help retain soil moisture, reduce weeds, and keep the pumpkins clean.
• Weeding: Be careful while weeding around young plants, as pumpkins have shallow roots. Hand-pulling weeds is safest.

Pruning and Vine Management

When planting out your pumpkins, you will want to consider the positioning carefully. A happy pumpkin plant can sprawl metres in all directions!

• Pruning: You can trim the vines to focus the plant’s energy on producing fewer but larger pumpkins. Cut back secondary vines (side shoots) or remove flowers if you’re aiming for giant pumpkins.
• Support: For smaller varieties you may want to consider using a trellis or an arch for the vines to grow up.

Pumpkin Flat White Boer

Harvesting Pumpkins

You will want to leave your pumpkin on the plant for as long as possible but harvest before the first frost comes.

• When to harvest: Pumpkins are ready to harvest when they’re fully coloured, have a hard rind, and the stem has dried and turned brown. 
• How to harvest: Use pruning shears to cut the pumpkin from the vine, leaving a 3-4 inch stem attached. Avoid carrying pumpkins by the stem to prevent it from breaking off.
• Curing: After harvesting, cure pumpkins by placing them in a warm, sunny spot for 10-14 days. This helps harden the skin and improves storage life.

Storing Pumpkins

Once cured, pumpkins can last for several months if stored properly:

• Storage conditions: Keep them in a cool, dry place with good ventilation. Avoid storing them on cold concrete floors, as this can lead to rotting.

Pumpkin Musquee De Provence

Pumpkins are a really gratifying veg to grow. Whether you’re using them for decorating, carving or baking into something delicious, you can have your very own pumpkin patch with just a little patience and space! Happy growing!

Video – How to Sow and Grow Pumpkins