Growing pumpkin plants is loads of fun. Do you want to grow the biggest and best pumpkins in your neighborhood? Whether you are growing giants, Jack O’Lanterns, or miniature Jack B. Little pumpkins, we’ve got plenty of tips and “how to grow” information. So, you can grow big and beautiful pumpkins that will be the envy of your neighbors and gardening friends. This article takes you through the pumpkin growing stages to help you to produce big, bright orange fruit on healthy plants.
Pumpkin Trivia: A pumpkin is a fruit. Most people think of it as a vegetable.
First and foremost, you need to determine what type of pumpkin plant you want to grow. Will it be Jack O’Lanterns for Halloween, miniature pumpkins, or giant pumpkins?
Then, you need to search for quality seeds. Before you even put a single seed into the ground, you need to prepare the soil in your pumpkin patch. Ultimately, your goal is to create the ideal soil that is loose and rich in all of the essential nutrients and minerals to promote maximum growth of the plant and fruit. First, check the soil pH levels. Next, amend the soil adding ample amounts of compost and manure.
Once planting time arrives, you begin to tend to the plant’s needs, providing ideal growing conditions. And, you must protect it from animals, insects, and plant diseases.
Here are important articles to help you with the early stages of pumpkin growing:
How to Improve Your Garden Soil – Growing pumpkin plants to produce the biggest fruit.
Seed Starting Dates – Start seeds at the ideal planting time.
Pumpkin Calendar – Schedule and Timeline
Chronology – A timeline for growing giant pumpkins.
Site Selection – Pick the ideal location.
Preparing the Pumpkin Patch – Provide a rich, fertile planting site for your plants.
Soil Preparation – It’s very important because big pumpkins need rich and healthy soil.
Amendments and Mulch for Healthy Soil– It improves the quality of your soil.
Ideal Soil pH Level – so your pumpkins can reach their full potential
Fertilizers and Micro-nutrients
Garden Manure
All About Seeds
Varieties of Pumpkin
Miniature Pumpkins
Pumpkin Seeds- Buying, Saving, Selection, Storage
Genetics – for giant growers
Germination and Seed Sprouting – because successful germination is step one
Seedling Care and Nurturing
Indoor or Outdoor Starts – for a fast and healthy start
This stage of the growing cycle is perhaps the most exciting. And, it is the most worrisome, too. Pollination and fruit set are not guaranteed. So, you need to learn all about the process and create the ideal conditions. Then, you may need to lend a hand to assure the proper pollination.
Then, there’s much to do as you help the plant to focus on growing big fruit. Also, you must continue to feed and water the plants while protecting it from threats. Finally, the goal is in sight as you watch yor pumpkins ripen.
Here are important articles to help you with the pollination and fruit growth stages:
About Pumpkin Fruit Growth and Development
Disease and Bacterias
Vine Care and Maintenance
Those Pesky Bugs
Fertilization
Protection– Sun, Wind, Hail
Water – pour it on…correctly.
Positioning of Fruit and Vine
Number of Pumpkins to Keep– Importantly, choose either more or bigger fruit.
Fruit Selection – for giant growers
Dill Rings – for giant pumpkin growers
Finally, the big day arrives. It’s the last step in growing pumpkin plants. You go out to your garden and pick beautiful, perfect pumpkins! In addition to harvesting a successful crop, here are important articles on proper storage, saving seeds, and more:
Harvesting Pumpkins – It’s the best part of growing them.
Pumpkin Picking Tips
Ripening Green Pumpkins – Learn how to turn them from green to orange.
Storage – You grew it, can you keep it until Halloween?
Saving Pumpkin Seeds – How to save pumpkin seeds for next year.
Fall Cleanup – In fact, next year’s crop begins now.
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Milk-Fed Pumpkins – fact or myth!?
Bonding a little gardening humor
Cloning A novel way to grow them.
Festivals – And it’s time to show off your giant fruit. So, find a weigh-off site here. Then, make plans to attend it.
Pumpkin Carving – It’s a Halloween tradition. And, it’s an art form.
Games using Pumpkins
Pumpkin recipes – Finally, we take great pleasure in eating them.
Terminology – understanding those strange terms.
Plant Problems – Help when you need it
The Growing Community
Giant Pumpkins – You’re not growing pumpkin plants until you grow giant pumpkins. Every grower feels the urge to grow a giant pumpkin at least once in their lives. Those who try, often are hooked for life. The challenge of growing giant pumpkins is huge, the effort is huge, and yet the urge to do so is simply irresistible. Learn how to grow giant pumpkins now.
