Triamble

Pumpkin Growing Instructions – Which variety to pick? What do you want to use it for?  How much space do you have and how many people are you feeding? Its great to grow a large pumpkin but if there are just two of you at home and no one to share with then a smaller pumpkin that will cover 2-4 meals might be suitable. Some varieties have a lower sugar content and a higher water content, making them less meaty or flavorful but still worthwhile for soups and roast, but not great for baking. Pumpkins are heavy feeders that require lots of space, warmth and sunlight while growing, so choose a location that gets full sun (or at least only partial shade) with enough room for pumpkin vines to grow. Creating mounds or hills will help to ensure good soil drainage and will also help keep soil warmer than the soil deeper in the ground. A popular method of growing pumpkins is the native American way called the three sisters.  Plant corn and pumpkin together and at the same time sow bean seeds to climb the corn.  The timing works out to be perfect and as the corn grows it will provide some shade for the pumpkin while the beans provide nitrogen for the other two around the time they will be flowering.  Drip irrigation is ideal for this set up as it can be a bit difficult to gain access to the wild jungle when it’s in full swing Pumpkins typically need about 75-100 frost-free growing days, so if you’re not sure when to plant, check the last and first average frost dates for your area and calculate the number of days in between to determine the best time to start seeds and whether to start indoors or direct sow them. You can check the BOM website to find the first and last average frost dates for your location.

1. Site Selection and Preparation:

• Sunlight: Pumpkins need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil is best, with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
• Compost: Incorporate plenty of compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting to improve drainage and fertility. Also add a generous helping of blood and bone fertiliser
• Space: Allow ample space for the vines to spread. Larger varieties need 1-2 meters between plants, while smaller ones can be closer.

2. Planting:

• Starting seeds indoors: In cooler climates, start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost. Be sure they receive enough sunlight and airflow to prevent leggy seedlings.  They should germinate in 5 to 10 days, quicker on a heat mat at 18-22oC

• Direct sowing: Sow 1-3 seeds directly into the ground after the last frost, when the soil is warm. (Above 18oC) , and thin to the strongest seedling.
• Planting depth: Plant seeds about 2.5cm (1 inch) deep.
• Mounding soil: For direct sowing, mound the soil slightly to improve drainage.
• Be sure to plant seedling out before the grow to big for their seedling pots as they tend to grow mostly male flowers if stress at seedling stage

3. Care and Maintenance:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially when flowers and fruit are developing. Water in the mornings to reduce the risk of mildew. Always try to avoid wetting the leaves.  Ideally drip irrigation is preferred or set up a semi-permanent soaker hose to the pumpkin growing area when planting so you can plug the hose into it for a bit during mornings

• Fertilizing: Pumpkins are heavy feeders. Use a balanced fertilizer and supplement with liquid fertilizer as needed. We promote organic growing but otherwise a “fruit” liquid fertiliser can be used from bunnings.  Give them a good feed just before flowering.  A well prepared rich site at planting stage should see them through until flowering.

• Pruning: Pumpkins will send out one main leader vine and as the season progresses, will send out second and third arms.  Idealy if you cut these extra arms off the plant will focus it’s energy into the few pumpkins growing rather than trying to make new ones.  This is especially helping when growing the larger pumpkins as a cool climate may not have the time to get these new pumpkins to maturity before the first frost.
• Pollination: If your pumpkins aren't pollinating, you can hand-pollinate by rubbing a male flower onto a female flower.

• Pest and disease control: Be vigilant for pests like possums vermin and late season disease like powdery mildew. Consider companion planting with beneficial insects like bees to aid pollination.

4. Harvesting:

• Timing: Harvest pumpkins when they’re mature and have fully turned their mature colour,  or if the vine has dried and began cracking.  In Tassie we leave them until the first light frost in may that kills of the stem but not enough to damage the pumpkin. In warmer areas, harvest on a dry day once the vines have begun to die back. Cut pumpkins off the vine with a sharp knife or pruners. Leave a few inches of stem.
• Sound test: Tap the pumpkin. A hollow sound indicates ripeness.
• Storage: Cure pumpkins off the vine in the sun for a week or two to harden up the skins. Then transfer to a garage, cold room or cool space protected from vermin and bugs and weather extremes.  Tilt pumpkins slightly in case they get any moisture.  That way it can drain off without rotting via the middle stem groove.