Pumpkin in Zone 8?

Question

I started a garden this year in Alaska and I have a lot of questions (and surprisingly, a lot growing!). But my first problem is my pumkins, I started them indoors in April and took them outside on Mother's Day. The plant is growing like crazy but I only have a few small pumkins, the biggest is about the size of a grapefruit. Will it grow fast enough to ripen by Halloween? How can I get it to grow faster, and how can I do this better next year? (I also have yellow squash with the same problems...) I appreciate any help, especially any resources so I can avoid these problems later. :)

Answer 1

It is important to understand your Hardiness Zone.

Check here for the info on Alaska:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/alaska.html
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/map/alaska.html

Now you MIGHT be in a Zone 8, but you will need to use some special techniques.

One thing that you might try is: cut off the main branch after you have one or two pumpkins (squash) on a plant. Then the plant will put all it's energy into getting those plants to maturity, instead of starting new babies. Put a tile or brick under each pumpkin. This will put extra heat under your pumpkin and also keep bugs off the bottom side.

To help it grow faster =water more. Pumpkins and squash need lots of water!!! Here is how I plant pumpkins and squash. I dig a hole and put an empty 1 gallon plant can in the hole. Around the hole, I dig in lots of compost and manure about 1 month before I am going to plant seeds. I plant seeds in the "improved soil". I use the empty plant can as the watering hole (once the seeds come up). All the plants roots are around the hole and using the can encourages them to go deep. It is also easy to remember where the roots are when I am watering!! Just a little garden trick!!

You might also want to put black plastic under your plants to increase the soil temperature.

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

If you live in Alaska you don't live in Zone 8. Because I live in South Texas & that's Zone 8.
Try BurpeeSeeds.com