Pumpkins Growing Guide

With fertile soil and a long enough growing season, it's easy to grow your own Jack-o-lanterns -- if you have enough space. Choose varieties bred for flavor if you want to make pies.

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:
„ full sun
Soil conditions:
„ requires well-drained soil
„ requires high fertility
Prefers well-drained, fertile, loose soil, high in organic matter with pH between 5.8 and 6.8. Plentiful and consistent moisture is needed from the time plants emerge until fruits begin to fill out.

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual
Tender annual
Ease-of-care: easy
If you have plenty of space, good soil and a long enough growing season, pumpkins are easy to grow.
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Spread: 5 to 15 feet
Most varieties grow on vines that spread 8 feet or more. Even smaller bush types spread 5 feet or more.
Bloom time:
„ mid-summer
„ late summer
Flower color: yellow
Foliage color: medium green
Foliage texture: coarse
Shape:
„ low and trailing
„ climbing / vine
Shape in flower: same as above

Growing Information

Plant Traits
Lifecycle: annual
Tender annual
Ease-of-care: easy
If you have plenty of space, good soil and a long enough growing season, pumpkins are easy to grow.
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Spread: 5 to 15 feet
Most varieties grow on vines that spread 8 feet or more. Even smaller bush types spread 5 feet or more.
Bloom time:
„ mid-summer
„ late summer
Flower color: yellow
Foliage color: medium green
Foliage texture: coarse
Shape:
„ low and trailing
„ climbing / vine
Shape in flower: same as above

Varieties

Whether they are Cucurbita pepo (the same species as summer squash) C. moschata, C. argyrosperma or C. maxima, most pumpkin varieties produce sprawling vines. If space is tight, there are a few bush or semi-bush varieties that take less space.

If you plan to make pies rather than Jack-o-lanterns, look for varieties bred for flavor (most are C. moschata). Ornamental types (most are C. pepo) range from tennis-ball-sized novelties (great for kids to decorate with paint) to behemoths weighing hundreds of pounds (most are of these giants are C. maxima). Lumina is a white pumpkin that is also great for painting.

Some varieties, such as Baby Bear, have very thin seed hulls, making them a great choice if you plan to toast the seeds for snacks.

Some larger varieties require long growing seasons and may not mature in cooler areas of