How to grow pumpkin plants at home

Pumpkins are one of the easiest productive plants to grow at home.   They can also be very productive with little care required.   They do however take up a lot of room so they are suited to a large backyard or country block.   Most varieties will need a space of around 5 mtrs plus, there are however dwarf varieties which require much less space that produce small pumpkins.  Pumpkins are warm season vegetables,  they will grow in subtropical to cool temperate regions.  In tropical regions planting can be done at anytime during the year.  In temperate and cool temperate regions planting of seed is best done in the first few weeks of spring (after any frosts have finished)

How to prepare the garden bed for pumpkins

The secret to growing good pumpkins is in the preparation of the bed.  The great thing about pumpkins is that you do not have to prepare a enormous bed for the pumpkin to grow,  all you need is a few square feet of tilled ground.   Once the pumpkin has spread it will grow over almost anything that stands in its way.   So if you have a back garden or lawn you can dig out any weed or grass to an area of about 2 feet square and then plant your pumpkin seeds.   Once the plant gets started it will spread out in many directions, the large leaves shading out competing weeds.  They do like lots of water to grow well so give you pumpkin a good drink now and then,  putting the hose on a small dribble and placing it at the base of the roots is a good way to get them growing quickly.   

Click Here for more details

How to fertilise pumpkin plants

Fertilising pumpkins is important.  To maximise grow they need the right amount and mixture of fertilisers, this does not mean you have to go overboard, but getting the right mix of fertiliser will pruduce the right size and number of pumpkins.  Avoid using fertilisers which are very high in nitrogen otherwise you will produce lots of vigourous growth and few pumpkins.  A good NPK vegetable fertiliser is best.   Pumpkins also like lots of organic matter in the soil and well drained soil to do best.   When preparing the bed use animal matures if possible with cow, sheep and to a lesser extent chicken maunure make great slow release fertilisers mixed in to the soil during bed preparation.   Once plants are established a couple of hand fulls of granular fertiliser twice during the growing season should be enough to get them growing well.

Click Here for more details

How to grow pumpkins from seed

You can very easily grow pumpkins from seed and pumpkins will germinate readly in a few week.   There are two common ways to do this.  1.  is the direct seed method,  once the soil has warmed up sufficiently during spring you can plant the seed directly into the ground.  As long as the soil around the seed gets sufficient moisture and warmth your seeds will sprout and grow very quickly.  2.  The second method is to grow your seeds in punnets this generally is to get them a good start just before the season starts.  To do this get some good, well drained motting mix and fill up some punnets.   Place the seed in the soil and place in a warm spot in the sun, keep the soil mix well watered.  It will take a few weeks for the seed to germinate.  You will only need around 4 seeds per punnet.  Once the soil has warmed up sufficiently you can plant your pumkins directly into the ground.  You can buy pumkin seedlings from a nursery also. 

Click Here for more details