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Preparing to Plant Your Pumpkins

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

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Preparing to Plant Your Pumpkins

By Bill Dugan, Editor and Publisher

Pumpkin patch

Pumpkin patch

Pumpkins come in four basic growing types: vining, semi-bush, bush, and miniature. They all need lots of sun, lots of space, and lots of water. With their long vines, the vining pumpkins require the most space. But even the miniature varieties need room to roam, with spreads of 4 to 6 feet.

Vining. The vining pumpkins need at least 50 to 100 square feet to call their own. Don’t plant them too close together. When you plant your seeds, plant four or five per hill. Leave at least 5 feet between your hills. And if you’re setting up a big pumpkin patch, you want your rows at least 10 to 15 feet apart. Once your plants are well established, it’s decision time: thin them out, leaving the best two or three plants.

Semi-bush. Plant four to five seeds per hill for semi-bush varieties, with 4 feet between hills and 8 feet between rows. Once your seedlings are up, keep the best two.

Bush. Plant bush variety seeds with one or two seeds for every foot of your row. Allow 4 to 6 feet between rows. When your seedlings are up, thin them to one plant every 3 feet.

Miniature. Miniature varieties should have two or three seeds every 2 feet in the row, with rows 6 to 8 feet apart. Once the seedlings show their first true leaves (those first two flapping leaves don’t count), thin them out to the best plant every 2 feet.

The most common way of starting your pumpkins is building a little mound with a sort of “moat” around it. The mound ensures that the soil is warm enough for the seeds; the moat keeps the water close to the seeds.

As your young plants continue to grow, be sure to pull any weeds that are around them. You don’t want your pumpkins to have to compete for food.

Which type of pumpkins do you grow? Have you had any challenges growing your desired type in your region? Please share any good tips you have for getting your pumpkin patch started.

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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
  • 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
  • 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

  • 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
  • Related Articles

  • How to Use Pumpkin in Unique Ways
  • What to Do with Pumpkins After the Harvest
  • Pumpkinpalooza—How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch

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