Pumpkins: Whether you use them for carving or cooking, pumpkins do not disappoint—if you have the space for them. Learn how to harvest, cure, and store this nutritious, delicious American native!
Did you know pumpkins have been grown in North America for almost 5,000 years? It’s a lot of fun to grow this native plant.
There are two requirements for growing this winter squash: 1) Having the space to grow them (ideally 1,000 square feet per plant) and 2) having a long growing season (generally 75 to 100 frost-free days). Growers in northern locations need to plant by late May; in southern states, plant by early July.
Pumpkins do require a lot of nourishment. That said, pumpkins are easy to maintain.
For more information on how to grow bell peppers click the following hyperlink to Farmers Almanac Pumpkins.
For other resources please click on Cornell Universities Pumpkins link or click on Gardening Know How's Pumpkins link.
Highly productive variety with three to five pumpkins per vine. Highly productive variety spreads 12 to 20 ft. (3.6 to 6.0 m), with three to five pumpkins per vine.
These vigorous, spreading pumpkins provide high yields of attractive 20- to 30-lb. (9- to 13-kg) fruit. Howden is one of the most traditional old-time favorites. Intense, bright orange pumpkins with defined ribs and string “handles” grow from 10-ft. (3-m) vines. Expect to harvest four or five from each plant. If you want to carve big pumpkins this fall, plant Howden this spring in full sun and be sure to keep the soil moist.
These small, deep orange pumpkins are fun and easy to grow, lasting up to a year if fully cured on the vine. Kids love these little pumpkins – especially to paint and decorate. Jack-Be-Little’s vines grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) long, producing as many as ten pumpkins each. Gardeners have actually grown these pumpkins in large patio containers using strong trellises, training the vine upwards.