When sweater weather arrives, our first inclination is to run for the nearest pumpkin spice latte. We adorn our autumnal doorways, walkways, porches, and mantles with colorful pumpkins. It’s tradition to carve jack-o-lanterns at Halloween and serve pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Fall is synonymous with pumpkins!
These days, the selection of pumpkins to commemorate the fall season is unlimited. More than just the standard-issue orange, pumpkins are now available in endless sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. If you would like to try growing your own pumpkin décor and fodder this fall, the time to begin is now. |
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PLAN |
You will have to address a couple of details before you begin growing pumpkins. |
Peruse the aisles of your local independent garden center or page through reputable seed catalogs to select the size, shape, and color of the pumpkins you wish to grow. Be sure to read the seed packet thoroughly, especially taking note of the “days to maturity.” You will want your pumpkins to ripen before Halloween and, therefore, must count the number of days to maturity backward from this holiday to give your pumpkins time to mature fully. Be sure to add a week or two to your calculation just to be safe. Most small pumpkins take about 100 days to mature and would be best planted sometime in July. Pumpkin vines grow very long. Be sure that you have enough room to accommodate this plant. If you are short on space, seek out compact “bush” varieties or grow miniature and small pumpkins easily supported with trellising. |
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PLANT |
Choose a sunny location and create a soil mound. The soil should be generously amended with Coast of Maine® Organic & Natural Planting Soil for Tomatoes and Vegetables. Planting your seeds on a small hill resembles planting in a raised bed. The soil will warm quicker, drain better, and provide more room for long vines as they cascade down the mound. Forming your planting hill will guarantee that your pumpkins are getting the healthiest start possible. Direct sow pumpkin seeds one inch deep, five seeds to each mound. These plants grow quickly; no reason to start them early. Water the mounds after planting and give each one a deep soaking once a week as the plants mature. Most edibles require an inch of water weekly. If Mother Nature provides adequate moisture, you may adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Pumpkins are heavy feeders! Feed pumpkin vines monthly using Coast of Maine® Stonington Blend™ Organic Plant Food. Broadcast this granular fertilizer in a two-foot circle around and including the mound. Gently work the fertilizer into the soil. Using organic products, especially when growing edibles, will bring you peace of mind knowing that your growing practices are the safest possible for your family and the environment. |
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Coast of Maine® Organic & Natural
Planting Soil for Tomatoes & Vegetables |
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Coast of Maine® Organic & Natural Planting Soil for Tomatoes and Vegetables is the optimal soil conditioner for pumpkin plants and the entire veggie garden ensemble! It is made with premium ingredients like compost, sphagnum peat moss, and aged bark, combined with Coast of Maine® Stonington Blend™ Organic Plant Food; your garden will perform like a rock star!
CLICK HERE to SHOP for Planting Soil for Tomatoes and Vegetables.
CLICK HERE to SHOP for Stonington Blend™ Organic Plant Food. |
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You will know when your pumpkins are ready to harvest as the rinds will become firm, and the color will be the correct shade selected. Cut mature pumpkins from the vine using sharp, clean pruning shears. Be sure to leave a bit of the stem attached for decorative purposes. |
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PUMPKINS |
How do you plan to use your pumpkins? Here are a few suggestions for our favorites for carving, consuming, and decorating. Do a little research and find a pumpkin that falls into more than one category to serve double duty this fall. |
CARVING
Carving pumpkins have thinner skin than other pumpkins, making carving less strenuous.
• Connecticut Field – Large
• Jack O Lantern – Medium
• Captain Jack – Tall
• Tom Fox – Long Handle |
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EATING Eating pumpkins have sweet-tasting flesh, perfect for pies, soups, and roasting.
• Cinderella
• Long Island Cheese
• New England Pie or Sugar
• Peanut
• Winter Luxury |
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DECORATING Pumpkins used in fall décor come in unusual colors and shapes and may even have a textured rind.
• Blaze – Flattened-round, orange striped
• Grizzly Bear – Medium, round, tan-skinned with warts
• Flat Stacker – Flat top, white
• Jarrahdale – Medium to large, slate-gray rind
• Spark – Small tabletop pumpkin, yellow-orange rind |
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Pumpkin season starts now! Visit your favorite local independent garden center to begin collecting your preferred pumpkin seeds for sowing and your Coast of Maine® soil and fertilizer for growing the best pumpkins ever. And don’t forget to check fall delicacies and décor off your to-do list. |
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