×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Manage Account
  • Authors
  • Keyword Index
  • Join

Food Gardening Network

Growing Good Food at Home

Join
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • Sign In
  • Search

Fertilizing & Watering Pumpkin Plants

Gardening Guide: Pumpkinpalooza: How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Fertilizing & Watering Pumpkin Plants

By Norann Oleson

Watering young pumpkin plants.

Watering young pumpkin plants.

As your pumpkins grow, you’ll need to make sure they have all the nutrients they need—and that means periodic fertilizing and frequent watering. If you don’t have a rain barrel yet, this is a good time to get one.

When you water your pumpkin plants, focus the water at the base of the plant. Water slowly so you don’t erode the soil. Avoid getting water on the leaves; this can leave them open to nasty things like powdery mildew (yuck!). If you water early in the morning, then the sun can help evaporate any moisture from the leaves. If you don’t have regular rain in your area, you’ll need to give your pumpkins a good, deep drink about once a week.

Can’t get out with the hose or the watering can? Set up a basic irrigation system with a soaker hose and a timer. Your local garden center or DIY store can help you get set up. If you’re more ambitious in the irrigation department, ask about a drip irrigation system—but be prepared to pay for that convenience.

Pumpkins are heavy feeders. Once your plants are established and the flowers have already appeared, you can give them some fertilizer about once a month. Use fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen and high in phosphate and potassium. Look for fertilizer that says 5-15-15 or 8-24-24 (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium). If it’s your first time growing pumpkins, you can err on the side of caution and get a more basic balanced 5-10-5 fertilizer. That should still be enough to nourish your pumpkins and keep them healthy.

Do you have any special tips for fertilizing and watering your pumpkin plants? Please tell us how you ensure that your pumpkins are well-watered and get all the nutrients they need to grow.

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Tags

fertilizer, pumpkins, soaker hose

Comments

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Pumpkins
  • Pumpkin Terminology
  • Preparing Your Home Garden to Welcome Pumpkins
  • Preparing to Plant Your Pumpkins
  • The Three Sisters Planting Method for Pumpkins
  • Pollinating Your Pumpkins
  • Fertilizing & Watering Pumpkin Plants
  • Prepare for Pumpkin Pests and What to Do About Them
  • Pumpkin Diseases & Pests: An Overview
  • Harvesting Your Pumpkins
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Pumpkins
  • Plant Profiles

  • Specialty Pumpkins
  • Pie Pumpkins
  • Mid-Size Pumpkins
  • Large Pumpkins
  • Giant Pumpkins
  • Recipes

  • Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
  • Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise
  • Flourless Pumpkin Muffins
  • Pumpkin and Bean Soup
  • Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Delicious Pumpkin Purée
  • Crowd Pleaser Pumpkin Pie
  • Creamy Pumpkin Seed Dressing
  • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Pumpkins
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Pumpkins
  • Resources about Pumpkins
  • Pumpkin Glossary

Enter Your Log In Credentials

This setting should only be used on your home or work computer.

  • Lost your password? Create New Password
  • No account? Sign up

Need Assistance?

Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at
(800) 777-2658

  • GardenComm Logo
  • MCMA logo
  • Renewd logo
  • Manage Account
  • Join
  • About Food Gardening Network
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Food Gardening Network
99 Derby Street, Suite 200
Hingham, MA 02043
support@foodgardening.mequoda.com

FREE E-Newsletter for You!

Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own garden—with our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Powered by
Mequoda Publishing Network
copyright © 2022 Mequoda Systems, LLC

Food Gardening Network® and Food Gardening Magazine® are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC.