Planting out pumpkin

[Cerys]

Morning all, I’m new here and would like some advice please. My son has planted pumpkin in the hope him and his siblings can harvest some at Halloween this year. 2 seeds germinated and we’ve got 1 big plant and a smaller plant. They’re currently on the kitchen windowsill. I’d like some advice on when I can plant in the ground. And how exactly I go about it. The big plant is overtaking the windowsill now so I was hoping I could move it.

[Stan79]

Whereabouts in the country are you?

[Cerys]

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Hi, I’m in South Wales

[Stan79]

In principle you should harden them off (get them used the heat, cold and wind of living outdoors) at the end of May and plant out in June.

If they’re going to overwhelm the windowsill before then, do you have a cooler room in the house that you could put them in to slow their growth rate down?

[MartinRSharpe]

If possible leave it pots for now, take outside in the day to a warm sheltered area and bring back in at night.

If they have taken over the place and need to go out now then if possible cover them overnight with something. Horticultural fleece or plastic sheeting it might stop them getting killed off by late frosts/night time cold but I would advise against it.


In terms of the how to put them out. Dig a hole, add some well rotted manure or compost if you have it. A bit of general purpose fertiliser also an option to give the a kick on. Pop the plant in and backfill.

Leave 1.5-2m between plants, they do like to expand!

Keep it weed free to start with if you can (it will soon expand to the point that is not a worry!). When the fruit starts to swell put a brick or tile (something to get it off the damp ground) and harvest when ready.

If you want larger carving pumpkins keep the first 3-4 looking good fruits per plant and remove smaller later ones.

Ideally lots of sun and water well

[peanut]

Hi Cerys,

Pumpkins won't enjoy being outside until the nights are much warmer end of May/June, in my head I always think double figures for night time temps. In the meantime, can you pot the biggest one on, into a slightly bigger pot and find another spot in the house where it still gets plenty of light?
On any nice warm days you can pop them outside, out of direct sunlight to start with, bringing them in as it cools off, until eventually they will be hardened off and ready to plant out side.
If you end up having to plant them out a bit earlier than is ideal, make sure you have some fleece/net curtains etc to wrap over them if you get caught out with a cold night. It would be so sad to lose them to the cold.
Whilst waiting to plant them out you can get the planting area ready, add some well rotted farmyard manure, compost etc. They will take up a lot of space, but are great fun for kids to grow. Keep well watered in dry spells and watch out for slugs.

Good luck!

[Bren In Pots]

You've had some excellent advice here Cerys all i'll add is to say hello and welcome to the vine.

Also have a read at this vine link on planting out and looking after your pumpkins.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/ho...inter-squashes

[Bonjour]

I've nothing to add to the good advice already given. except to say that if you have any seeds left, now would be a good time to sow them as insurance in case you lose the early-sown ones.