Why Growing Your Own Pumpkin Is Better for the Environment

Growing your own pumpkins is not just fun—it’s eco-friendly! Many shop bought pumpkins come with high food miles as they’re imported, contributing to carbon emissions as they’re transported long distances and many are thrown in the bin afterwards.

Did you know that 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins are thrown away in the UK every Halloween? That’s equivalent to the weight of 1,500 double-decker buses! Most of these pumpkins are never eaten, contributing to massive food waste.

By planting your own and eating it, you can help reduce this impact. Plus, growing at home encourages biodiversity and supports sustainable practices like composting and organic gardening.

Check out our two delicious recipes for using your pumpkin:

• Our pumpkin soup hack recipe – a quick and easy way to use your pumpkin
• Our open fire pumpkin recipe – a wonderfully rustic and rewarding way to eat your pumpkin

Don’t waste a thing, any parts of your pumpkin you’re not eating can be composted!

Pumpkin seeds can be bought at any time as they last around 2 years.  We have a gorgeous range here at She Grows Veg – check them out HERE.

Pumpkin Musquee De Provence

Pumpkin Paintbox

We are your growing ally!  If you want pumpkins in time for Halloween, here’s our guide on how to grow them so they’re ready in time.

When to Sow

Start sowing your pumpkin seeds indoors in April to give them a good head start. Sow each seed into individual pots filled with peat-free compost, about 2-3 cm deep. Keep the pots in a warm, sunny spot or a greenhouse to ensure germination, which usually takes around 7-10 days. If you prefer direct sowing, wait until late May or early June when the risk of frost has passed.

Transplanting Outdoors

Once your seedlings are around 10 cm tall and the danger of frost has passed (usually late May to early June), harden them off by placing them outside during the day for a week or so. Then, plant them in a sunny, sheltered spot in rich, well-drained soil. Space them out well—at least 1 metre apart, as pumpkin plants love to sprawl!

Growing Tips

• Feed regularly with a high-potash fertiliser once the plants start to flower, as this helps to develop strong pumpkins.
• Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Water consistently, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging.

Pollination and Fruit Development

Pumpkins produce both male and female flowers. Bees are the primary pollinators, so it’s important to encourage them into your garden. If pollination doesn’t seem to be happening, you can hand-pollinate by transferring pollen from the male to the female flower using a paintbrush.

Harvesting

For Halloween pumpkins, you’ll want to harvest by mid to late October. You’ll know they’re ready when the skin is hard and turns the desired colour. Cut the pumpkin from the vine with a few centimetres of stem attached.

Storage

Once harvested, pumpkins should be cured by leaving them in a warm, dry place for about a week. This helps harden the skin, allowing them to be stored for longer, either as decoration or for eating!

By following these steps, you’ll have beautiful, homegrown pumpkins ready for carving, decorating, or cooking for Halloween—without the environmental impact of store-bought varieties that travel thousands of miles and often end up in landfills. 

Join the movement to grow your own and reduce food waste. Your pumpkin patch could make a big difference!

Happy growing!

Video – How to Sow and Grow Pumpkins