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key growing information
How to Grow Pumpkins From Seed
How to grow pumpkins: soil and pH, plastic mulch and row covers, starting transplants, direct sowing, seeding rates, spacing by vine type, pests, diseases, harvest, curing and storage.
By Hensley’s Seed Co.
Pumpkins - Key Growing Information
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Cucurbita spp.
CULTURE:
Pumpkins do best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8–6.8. Plastic mulch and fabric row covers (AG-19 weight) help young plants get established and keep insects off seedlings; take the covers off when flowering starts. Poorly formed fruit can be a sign of poor pollination. Time your plantings so varieties ripen for fall sales. Leaving ripe fruit in the field in full sun after the vines die back dulls the color of both fruit and handles.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
Counted from direct sowing; take off 14 days for transplants.
TRANSPLANTING:
Plant 2–3 seeds in each 2" pot or plug flat about 3 weeks before transplanting, and germinate at 75–95°F (24–35°C). Thin to one plant per pot or cell with scissors, and harden off for 4–7 days before planting. Once frost danger has passed, plant out at the spacing given for each variety. Handle seedlings gently and disturb the roots as little as possible.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow in late spring, after frost danger has passed and the soil is at least 70°F (21°C). Plant 2 seeds ½–1" deep at each spot, spaced for the variety's vine length, and thin to one plant once seedlings are established.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
At 2 seeds per foot in rows 6' apart: 250 seeds sow about 125', 500 about 250', 1,000 about 500', and roughly 15,000 seeds per acre.
PLANT SPACING:
Between rows, allow 4–5' for bush types, 6' for short vines and usually 12' for long vines. In-row spacing depends on fruit size, roughly 18–24" for small, 24–36" for medium and 36–72" for large and extra-large. Check each variety, as needs can differ.
INSECT PESTS:
Cucumber beetles, squash bugs and vine borers all commonly attack cucurbits. Protect young plants with floating row covers. Crush squash bug eggs found under the leaves. For vine borers, cut them out of the vine and mound soil over the wound. Keep field edges mowed, clear plant debris in fall, and plow in spring to bury pupae. C. moschata types are less prone to vine borers. Insecticides , pyrethrin sprays in particular, may give some control.
DISEASE:
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt and phytophthora are the usual cucurbit diseases. Good drainage, airflow, insect control and crop rotation prevent most problems; if needed, ask your local Cooperative Extension office about control options.
HARVEST:
Fruit can take 1–2 light frosts, but temperatures under 28°F (-2°C) can damage it. Once the color is fully developed, cut the handle close to the vine. Don't lift pumpkins by the handle, and be careful not to nick the rind. Cure in the field in the sun for 5–7 days, or indoors at 80–85°F (27–29°C) with good airflow. Black and white pumpkins sunscald easily, so get them out of direct sun once the vines start to die back, and cure and keep them indoors and shaded so they don't yellow.
STORAGE:
Store at 50–60°F (10–15°C) and 50–70% relative humidity with good airflow.
SEEDS/LB. (AVG.):
3,200.
PACKET:
30 seeds per packet unless noted in the description, enough for about 15'.
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