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Growing great pumpkins
American Gardeners plant pumpkins to carve or paint as
jack-o'-lanterns, bake into pies or display for Halloween and
Thanksgiving.
 Pumpkins are
warm season vegetables that do well in low humidity and usually grow in
any average soil. But, they won't tolerate wet, poorly aerated soils.
Pumpkins need a lot of room and full sun to grow, so plant them on the
edge of a Garden and allow them to spread on uncultivated ground.
Pumpkins require moderate fertilization, so add a nitrogen fertilizer
while preparing the soil before planting and then spread fertilizer in the
rows when the vines start to spread. Plant pumpkins in late May in rows
four to six feet apart. Plant two seeds in each hole, with holes about two
feet apart. When the plants have three or four leaves, thin to one plant
every two feet. Keep weeds under control and scout for insects
regularly.
Pumpkins are deep-rooted, water-conserving plants and should be watered
deeply and infrequently to encourage good vine and root growth. Keep
plants watered between late July and early August when they bloom and
fruit. Pumpkins are ready for harvest when the rind, or skin, has
toughened and the stems are dry.
For giant-sized pumpkins weighing several hundred pounds, try growing
the Prizewinner variety. For jack-o'-lanterns up to 25 pounds, plant
Howden; and for tall and slender pumpkins, plant Tallman. Baby Bear is a
decorative variety that is sweet for cooking. Its nearly hulless seeds are
great for toasted snacks and its size is perfect for children to
carve.
For more information, see the following Colorado State Extension fact sheet(s).
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