Cucurbita pepo
SPACE REQUIRED: 60cm x 60cm.
DISTANCE APART: 60cm
WHEN TO HARVEST: The pumpkins are ready when the vine dies down and the part of the stalk that attaches to the pumpkin has shrivelled up.
HOW MUCH WATER: Water every day.
WHERE TO PLANT: Full sun
CAN I GROW THEM IN A POT? Yes but make it a big one! Even a tub or old bath would work really well. Fill it with premium potting mix and water it well. Plant the seedlings and water them lightly so that they settle in.
CAN I GROW THEM IN A GARDEN BED? Yes. Before planting, dig lots of compost through the soil and pile it up into mounds that are about 60cm wide by 20cm high. Water the mounds lightly and then plant one seedling into the middle of each mound and water them again. Spread some mulch such as pea straw or lucerne hay over the soil and water the area well.
BEST BUDDY PLANTS: Pumpkin and corn are best buddies! Plant the corn in between the pumpkin mounds so that the giant leaves of the pumpkin vines shade the roots of the corn.
OTHER ‘SMARTY PLANT’ TIPS:
- When you get your seedlings home, let them sit in a shallow tray of water which has had a tablespoon of seaweed solution added for an hour or two. This will get them ready for transplanting.
- After planting, water the seedlings with a very soft hose or a watering can several times a day until they settle in.
- Don’t fertilise too early. Wait until the flowers start to appear and then sprinkle on a granular fertiliser especially for fruit and vegetables.
- If there are not many bees in the garden, check out the mini pumpkin fact sheet on our website and it will explain how you can use a paint brush to pollinate the flowers.
There’s more information at the Smarty Plants website.