How to Grow Pumpkins

Pumpkins are very nutritious and very easy to grow.

Steps to Grow Pumpkins

1. Acquire pumpkin seeds. Plant nurseries are the best sources of pumpkin seeds. These establishments can also provide helpful information about the right climate and soil for the seeds you can get.
2. Find a suitable location to plant your pumpkin seeds. Select an area in your garden that gets much sunlight. The soil in the area should have a pH level of 6.0 to 6.8. After determining the exact spot, dig in a generous amount of cured manure and compost.
3. Till the pumpkin patch. Make it deep and wide as the roots and vines of pumpkins can spread out for about 15 feet in each direction.
4. Plant the seeds. Do this when all signs of frost have passed. Plant the pumpkin seedlings in a mounted position. Make them deep enough so that they will absorb the nutrients of the compost. Generally, you need to provide a space of 5 feet between each plant. This may however vary, so check the seed packets you acquired.When the plants have established themselves on the soil, mulch them with organic matter. This will conserve much needed moisture and prevent weeds from interfering with the growth of the plants. Place floating row covers around the plants to protect them against extremely cold winds.
5. Provide the plants with 1 to 2 inches of water every week. This is necessary particularly when the pumpkin plants are blooming and starting to bear fruits. Also, you can feed the plants with seaweed extract every 2 to 3 weeks.
6. When fruits appear, pinch the vines back. This will control the growth of the vines. Rotate the pumpkins from time to time. This will ensure their symmetrical shape. You can finally harvest the pumpkins when the vines are shriveled and dead.