• Sow in fertile, warm soil after danger of frost has passed.
• Sow seeds directly in the garden.
• Give large-fruited pumpkins plenty of room to ramble.
• For improved drainage sow in mounds, or hills, of soil 12 inches in diameter, 6-8 inches tall.
• Sow 4-6 seeds in groups about 3 inches apart. Each group should be about 4-6 feet apart. Cover with 1 inch of fine soil and firm lightly.
• Keep evenly moist.
• Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
• Do not plant pumpkins and other squash family crops in the same spot 2 years in a row.
• Thin seedlings to 2-3 per group when they are 1-2 inches high
• Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level.
• Pumpkins have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers will open first and the female flowers will open later. The female flower has a miniature fruit behind the blossom.
• If you are trying to grow extra-large pumpkins, allow only one fruit per plant to mature.
• Pumpkins are ready to harvest when the rinds are hard and a rich shade.
Good harvest!