pumpkins

[Salina]

Hopefully I'm buying a packet of pumpkin seeds next week.
I am planning on planting them in little pots and keeping them indoors inside the window until they turn into seedlings and are big enough to be transferred into a bigger pot. but what then? it is possible to grow pumpkins in a pot/tub or do they have to be planted in the ground?
and do they need any special care or do you just stuff them in the ground and they produce edible pumpkins eventually?
any advice appreciated, what I've read about growing pumpkins so far is very confusing!

[yoanbob]

mrs dobbgy is growing some inside, think you will need to pollinate the flowers tho.
we just waited till ours were about 20cm and put them out this weekend, I'm no expert tho.

[momol]

Hi Salina,

Yes you should germinates your pumpkin indoor if it is not warm enough outdoor. You should be able to grow them in pot ( around 35 to 45 cm across and make sure the ground enriched with organic matter ; manures ) but do choose for small to medium pumpkin ( preferably small ) and choose for the compact vine ( due to it's nutrient reguirement and space issue ).
I read it before that one of the grape grown them in pot and it was producing 2 fruit per vine... but don't remember which type was it , sorrry . So it is possible and good luck.

Momol

[Matt.]

I suppose pumpkins would grow in a pot but you would need a very big pot. I think its because they are so big and sprawling that they are mostly planted in the ground. Also if you go for a pot you need somewhere for the fruit to sit. Would the pot be big enough? I'd think you would need something the size of a bathtub.

They should work in a growbag but again thats quite small and for one plant only I'd say. As for germinating seeds inside thats a good idea. It won't take long though - mine were at two leaves inside a week and its no stopping from then on. Start them off in largeish pots to save transplanting so soon. However, all my experience is with a huge variety so maybe a smaller one will grow slower?!

[chillie girl]

I have got mine in a bucket, growing up a trellis. I plan to hold the fruit in a net when it develops. This is the first time I have grown a pumpkin so it is an experiment. Not sure if it will work, but you dont know until you try.

Good luck with yours.

Tracy

[Salina]

Hmm I suppose I could grow them in the ground, the front part of our field has had topsoil put on it so it's not clay like the back of the field.
do their roots go down very deep?
also do they need full sun or shade?
and how long from seedling-eating the pumpkin? I'm impatient lol. I presume you can harvest them around halloween time? or maybe I'm completly wrong lol. Thanks for the replies everyone!

[momol]

Hi Salina,

Glad to hear that you decided to plant them in the ground. don't forget to enriched your soil with organic matters ( with manures and compost ).
As for how long, it is really depending on which variety you are choosing. The longest growing time is needed for the Cucurbita mixta/ argyrosperma ( around 120 to 140 days ). But if you choose C. moschata or C. pepo or even C.maxima it will be around 90 to 110 (in this matter it is really depending on the variety ). All Squash ( pumpkin are squash too ) need plenty of sun & rich moist soil ( some do tolerate drought ).
One of the grape has post this web sometimes ago : http://www.backyardgardener.com/wcgp...s/10steps.html

I grown red kuri ( C. maxima ) last year, it was around 95 to 100 days. This year I am growing it again, plus Yokohama ( C. moschata ) and Pomme D'or ( C. pepo ). I specificly growing only 1 type of each type to be able to save my seed, because they do cross polinate among the seme family.
Here are pictures of my last year winter squash while young and the mature stage... Enjoy growing,
Momol

[andrewo]

Remember to put the manure in first, up to two weeks before - this way it warms up the soil and won't burn the roots. Pumpkins are heavy feeders and I suggest that you use a manure brew (take some manure, put it in an old sack and chuck it in a barrel of water), you can also use spent hops in the planting hole to retain moisture and feed with beer - yes, you heard it, beer, one for the pumpkin, two for the gardener - makes watering a field of them fun!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Remember to put the manure in first, up to two weeks before - this way it warms up the soil and won't burn the roots. Pumpkins are heavy feeders and I suggest that you use a manure brew (take some manure, put it in an old sack and chuck it in a barrel of water), you can also use spent hops in the planting hole to retain moisture and feed with beer - yes, you heard it, beer, one for the pumpkin, two for the gardener - makes watering a field of them fun!

I wish I'd known that before I planted mine andrew! Bernie

[andrewo]

Well you know for next time, but the manure liquid works really well, just get a peg for your nose.

[Salina]

thanks for the replies
so let me get this straight..... (don't want to mess them up lol)
1. plant seeds and wait for seedling to appear (indoors)
2. plant out in the ground with some manure (how big should they be before I plant them out and also would shop-bought soil in the bag be alright instead of manure?)
3. pumpkins will be ready to eat in about 100 days right?
don't think I'll be allowed to buy beer for them lol, is it essential or can they do without it?

[Snadger]

thanks for the replies
so let me get this straight..... (don't want to mess them up lol)
1. plant seeds and wait for seedling to appear (indoors)
2. plant out in the ground with some manure (how big should they be before I plant them out and also would shop-bought soil in the bag be alright instead of manure?)
3. pumpkins will be ready to eat in about 100 days right?
don't think I'll be allowed to buy beer for them lol, is it essential or can they do without it?

Don't you dare go wasting beer on them!!! Drink the beer, and if you drink enough your pumpkin will look as big as anyones.......trust me!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Don't you dare go wasting beer on them!!! Drink the beer, and if you drink enough your pumpkin will look as big as anyones.......trust me!!

How much does it take Snadger? Bernie