Growing Pumpkins?

Question

I want to start a garden and possibly grow a couple of pumpkins. (I have a 2.5 year old that loves them). I've heard that growing pumpkins is difficult. I live in New England and I've also heard that it's easier here then in other parts of the country. Anyone have any advice on whether or not I should bother with it.

Answer 1

You can have a blast with your child and make it a learning experience at the same time. You can start the seeds in a dixie cup and transplant those directly into your garden. Mound up dirt about four inches and plant 2-3 pumpkins in the mound. (This ensure that you will have at least one pumpkin survive).

Fertilize with nitrogen. If you want a really large pumpkin, fertilize every two weeks, but once or twice a season should be enough.

The most important part is the watering. It needs even watering. If you let it get dry and then it rains a lot, the pumpkins will split. Also the more water it gets, the bigger and faster the pumpkins will grow.

Answer 2

Give it a shot. The pumpkins need room to spread so place them far away from other plants. In your zone you should not plant until a week or so around Father's Day (Early June). To be safe buy small container plants versus the seeds.
I normally would not say this, however, the granular formulations of Miracle-Gro really do seem to help that plant. Just follow the directions and use the granular vs. the liquid.
Make sure they have sun and water.
Watch out for animal damage to the leaves and buds. Some people place landscape netting or fences around the bed. Some people spray a mixture of Hot Pepper Sauce at one ounce to a gallon on the plants.
It is worth the effort to see your child watch, learn, and harvest even a single pumpkin. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

They take a long growing season so try every trick to get them into the ground early and protected from cold weather. They require a rich soil, plenty of compost. In fact they often grow very well on the compost pile where it is warm, loose soil and plenty of nutrients. Also they need moisture, neither too wet or too dry. Allow only one, maybe two pumpkins to grow per vine, pinch off any others. The biggest bug problem is squash bugs. They can suck the juices right out of your vines. There are various dusts you can use to keep them bugs at bay, also you can capture them.......2.5 year old might like that. Watch for the egg masses and destroy them before they hatch.....they are on the leaf underside...cluster of little red bumps. Since this is your first time, don't try for a world record size, something moderate would be better.

Answer 4

Why don't you just try it? Either they'll grow or not.
I tried to grow some once, and I had several vines going, but only one pumpkin that was getting big. It was about the size of a volleyball when my stupid chickens got out and ate the damn thing. I was so mad!
I'd recommend trying it. You know, a fun thing to grow with kids are peas. Put poles in the ground in the form of a teepee and grow them up that. It'll leave a little place inside for the kids to play in. My kids used to love that.

Answer 5

a pumpkin vine can take up a lot of garden space so first you must have room, make sure when you plant your seeds you plant them on a pile of dirt or a mound place your seeds on the side of your dirt mound. follow packet insturctions. good luck.