Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo / C. maxima · Vegetable

A sprawling, hungry warm-season crop that needs space, sun and a long summer. Rich soil and steady water decide the size of the harvest. Well-cured fruit can keep for months in a cool room.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun, 6–8 hours or more

Water

1–2 in per week, deep and at the base

Soil

Rich, well-drained, lots of compost, pH 6.0–6.8

Temperature

Best 70–90 °F; frost kills plants

Spacing

3–5 ft between hills, 6–10 ft between rows

Container

Only small varieties; at least 15 gallons, 18 in deep

Harvest

90–120 days from sowing (estimated)

Lifespan

Annual

When?

Sow outdoors after the last frost once the soil is above 65 °F, or start indoors 2–3 weeks earlier in biodegradable pots. Count back from your first autumn frost so fruit has time to ripen (estimated).

Step by step

1. Dig plenty of compost or well-rotted manure into the planting spot.
2. Sow 2–3 seeds 1 in deep per mound; keep the strongest seedling.
3. Water deeply at the base, keeping leaves as dry as possible.
4. Mulch well to hold moisture and keep fruit off bare soil.
5. Feed with a balanced fertilizer early, then a potassium-rich one at flowering.
6. If few fruits set, hand-pollinate by moving pollen from male to female flowers.
7. Slip a board or straw under developing fruit to prevent rotting.
8. Harvest when the rind is hard and the stem is dry; cure in a warm spot for 10 days.

Common problems

Pets

Pumpkin plants are not listed as toxic for cats or dogs. Moldy or rotting fruit should be kept away from pets. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Related tools

Similar plants