×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening LIfe
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Authors
  • GreenPrints Writer’s Guidelines
  • Keyword Index
  • Join
Celebrating 5 Years of Food Gardening

Food Gardening Network

Growing food, fun & more

Give a GiftJoin
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening Life
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • Sign In
  • Search

Growing Pumpkins from Seeds or Seedlings

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

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Growing Pumpkins from Seeds or Seedlings

By Bill Dugan, Executive Editor

Pumpkin patch

Pumpkin patch

You can grow pumpkins from seeds or seedlings. Part of it depends on your preference, and part of it depends on your growing season. Check the seed packet for the days to maturity and back up to see when your last planting day would be. If your growing season is on the short side, start your pumpkins indoors and then transplant the seedlings outside at the proper time.

Seed Planting Process

If you prefer starting your pumpkin patch from scratch, you’ll need to get some seeds. Pumpkin seeds need warm soil to germinate—at least 65 degrees F at a depth of 2 inches. And they don’t like frost, either. So be sure your last frost is past before you start planting.

You’ll want to follow the planting directions on your seed packets so you are starting your new seeds at the right depth. In general, you can plant pumpkin seeds about an inch down, with up to five seeds in each little hill of soil that you’ve prepared for them. You’ll thin those out to two or three plants per hill once the seedlings get growing.

If you’re planting a smaller variety, you’ll be able to plant the seed hills closer together. The general spacing for vining pumpkins is 5 to 6 feet between hills, with rows 10 to 15 feet apart. If you’re growing semi-bush pumpkins, you’ll want about 4 feet between hills and about 8 feet between rows. Always read the directions on the seed packet.

Your rows should be pretty far apart, whether there are pumpkins growing in the next row or not. Remember, pumpkins like to spread out, so plant your next row about 5 feet away.

Growing from Seedlings

Pumpkins grow best when the seeds are sown directly where they’re going to grow. But if you live in an area with a shorter growing season, you can start your pumpkin seeds indoors. Keep in mind that despite their sturdy looking exterior when they’re fully ripened, pumpkins are tender plants. Treat them gently.

To get your seedlings going, plant seeds in starter pots at least 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep. You’ll need about four weeks to get from seed to transplantable seedling. Be sure to harden off your plants before you set them out in the garden. Give them a little outdoor time with indirect light every day for about five days, and bring them in at night. For the next five days, leave them outside in a sheltered spot, and if it’s warm enough, leave them out overnight. This process helps strengthen the plant’s cells and makes them more likely to survive transplanting.

When the soil temperature reaches at least 65 degrees F, go ahead and transplant your young pumpkin plants. Remove weeds by hand when they show up.

Be sure you have the proper soil prepared in your garden to host your pumpkin vines. And whatever you do, don’t let their soil dry out. Pumpkins are hardy plants, but they don’t do well if they’re not well-watered.

Have you tried growing pumpkins from seeds or seedlings? Which method do you prefer—and why? Please share your experiences with us by commenting below.

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Tags

growing pumpkins, pumpkins

Comments
  • Susan L. December 14, 2023

    I planted them from seed two summers ago. It’s a great deal. If you think you get a lot of zucchini, the amount of good pumpkins is incredible — I gave a lot away and many I feed to my chickens. I recommend planting them wholeheartedly.. I’m in 5B.

    Reply

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

  • Growing Zones for Pumpkins
  • 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
  • Growing Pumpkins from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Sun and Soil Requirements for Growing Pumpkins
  • Planting Pumpkins in the Ground or in Raised Beds
  • Growing Pumpkins in Containers
  • Watering, Weeding, and Fertilizing your Pumpkin Plants
  • Harvesting Your Pumpkins
  • Storing and Preserving Your Pumpkins
  • Dealing with Pumpkin Diseases
  • Dealing with Pumpkin Pests
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Pumpkins
  • What to Do with Pumpkins After the Harvest
  • How to Use Pumpkin in Unique Ways
  • Plant Profiles

  • Munchkin Pumpkin
  • Lumina Pumpkin
  • Jack-B-Quik Pumpkin
  • Jack-B-Little Pumpkin
  • Casper Pumpkin
  • Trickster Pumpkin
  • Spookie Pumpkin
  • Small Sugar Pumpkin
  • Cinderella Pumpkin
  • Magic Lantern Pumpkin
  • Connecticut Field (aka Big Tom) Pumpkin
  • Baby Pam Pumpkin
  • Spirit Pumpkin
  • Jackpot Pumpkin
  • Harvest Moon Pumpkin
  • Howden Pumpkin
  • Half Moon Pumpkin
  • Prizewinner Pumpkin
  • Big Moon Pumpkin
  • Big Max Pumpkin
  • Baby Boo Pumpkin
  • Autumn Gold Pumpkin
  • Aspen Pumpkin
  • Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
  • Recipes

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

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

  • How to Grow Bigger Pumpkins
  • Pumpkinpalooza—How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch

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

Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations:

  • American Horticultural Society
  • GardenComm Logo
  • GardenComm Laurel Media Award
  • MCMA logo
  • Join Now
  • Learn More
  • 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

To learn more about our Email Marketing and Broadcasting Services, Exchange Program, or to become a marketing partner with any of our publications, click here to contact us at Mequoda Publishing Network.

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 © 2025 Mequoda Systems, LLC

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