Growing Pumpkin: How to grow Pumpkin Step by Step ideas

Pumpkin, the Cultivar of squash plant was cultivated in the North America for the very first time. Then, after witnessing its pulpy quality, this vegetable is hugely grown for commercial reasons and utilized for both the food preparations and recreation process. This product also uses as a decorating object, especially during the Halloween. As because this vegetable is easy to cultivate, growing pumpkin on our own has been a popular garden activity since the last few decades! It is easy to plant, simple to care and truly rewarding as a crop. The best part is that pumpkin can survive in various circumstances and can grow in a small container as well! Let’s check out some significant peaks of growing pumpkin in your own capability-

Growing Pumpkin:

Soil:

Choosing a planting spot and preparing the soil are those steps we need to take at the beginning of our cultivation process. The soil is an imperative part of any farming as well as the growing pumpkin procedure.

This vegetable needs soil with good drainage system with a little sandy quality.
It can’t stand against damp, cold or damp soil, so make sure that you are not choosing any clay-based soil or choose any place that is out of sunlight and cold.
Now mix your potting soil with adequate compost in 2 to 4 inches layer.
Select soil with 5.5 to 7.5 pH level to get the best growth of pumpkins.

Remember that perfect soil plays a great role in the healthy growth of your garden pumpkin, so always try to arrange good soil with the ideal pH balance to get the best of your crop.

you may also be interested in growing potatoes and growing tomatoes.

Season:

Pumpkin cultivates best in the late spring or the early summer as it needs a temperature of 65 degrees F in a normal condition.
It has been noticed that as much warming temperature pumpkin seeds get, as faster, they will be germinated.
Make sure that the temperature of the soil consists a warmness of 55 degrees F at the night to keep the consistency of growth absolutely appropriate.
We are recommending you planting this crop in the early summer so then; it could get a bearable sunlight and a warm dilemma around it.

Planting : How to

After arranging the soil, spot and the perfect temperature it’s time to plant the seeds or Pumpkin plant in your garden. Make certain that you can provide at least 20 square feet areas around your grown plants.
Now, make some big holes on the land and fill them with a compost mixture before some days of planting.
Then, plant your seeds or sprouted seeds in 1 to 2 inches deep inside the soil.
Attempt for sowing them at the centre of the selected land so the plant could get enough space to grow its vine hugely.
Plant 2 or 3 seeds within a gap of 5 to 6 inches and then, cover them up with some more composted soil.
Then water the seeds or plant frequently and check whether the drainage system works properly or not!
Once the plant gets germinated, water them a little lesser and check that the plant can get enough sunlight or not.
After the plants get a height of 6 to 7 inches, mulch them with proper mulches. You can skip this part if you have planted your Pumpkin plants cleverly near the garden fences.
Initially, the flowers bloom early on this plant and the fruit being forth later when the flower gets shrinking.
This time, dig up the soil a little and spread some fertilizer to provide a healthy future for your crops.
When the Pumpkins begin to stronger and turn orange, stop the watering immediately.
Finally, after a duration of 1 or 1.5 weeks, you can start harvesting your crops happily.

Need ideas on Compost learn about Garden worms and compost.

Taking Care for Pumpkin:

To care your Pumpkin plants and Pumpkins you just require validating a few specific things during the whole planting process and they are as follow-

Water carefully to the soil, as the plants need lots of water to grow, but they can’t bare wet soil. So, whenever you are watering Pumpkin plants, make sure that soil seems a little dry.
Check the drainage system every time after watering, as roots of this plant run several inches deep in the soil thus, mix some sandy soil in the potting mixture. In this way, the water could reach the roots more easily.
This plant can’t tolerate any shadow over it, so, never plant your Pumpkin plants under any shady area.
If possible, then you can arrange any artificial lights like LED bulbs too, for providing adequate light during the night as well!
Fertilize your crop frequently, especially after the sprouting, as the plant needs more nutrition to produce fruits since then.
After getting an average length, mulch your plants to avoid any unwanted rottenness of Pumpkin leaves or flowers.
Prune your plant if needed to get healthy stems as that could cater more nourishments to your plants then ever!
Last but definitely the least tip is to harvest Pumpkins after having the proper ripeness of the fruits.

Love squash, you may also be interested in growing cucumbers – learn how to grow store and pickle cucumbers.

DIY Video: How to grow Pumpkin

Pest & Diseases of Pumpkin:

Because of having a tasty and pulpy fruit, Pumpkin gets pests and diseases easily than any other vegetables. Squash bugs, cucumber beetles, etc. are some typical pests that could easily affect the Pumpkin plant along with its leaves and fruits. You can use some organic pest killing sprays to get remedy from these troubles. Aphids, Squash Vine Borer, Powerdary Mildew, Anthracnose, etc. are some other fungus, virus, and diseases which could damage the Pumpkin plants as well. Give heavy water flushes, covering the plants with metal made mulches, contacting local country extension, using fungus sprays, etc. are some frequent remedies you could try to get rid of these troubles.

Remember that poor light, wet soil, overwatering, too much fertilizer, unsuitable weather, etc. can be the reason behind all your pests and diseases. So, if you don’t want to get suffered by these troubles then, take proper care of your Pumpkin plants throughout the whole growing session.

Harvest & Storage Process of Pumpkin:

To harvest Pumpkins, you need to have patience till it gets the proper ripen form. To recognize the proper condition you need to check the color, heaviness and the husk of your Pumpkin fruit. When the fruit would have a deep and dark orange shade; the rind will feel really hard, and it will sound hollow, it is all ready to harvest. The shape of your pumpkin fruit varies with its species, you have to recognize the size of your own fruit, whether it is ready to pluck or not! Be careful about not to pick Pumpkins off the vine before reaching the exact harvesting condition.

To store your favorite Pumpkin for a very long while you can apply several ways let’s, check out some of them as follows-

Wash out the selected Pumpkins in a very gentle chlorine condition with lots of water.
Then, dry them out completely and place them on a piece of cardboard.
After that, store that object in a cool, dry and dark place. Avoid any sort of humid or hot place.
This will help you to store your lovely Pumpkins for a week, but if you want to store them for a few more weeks then, you can freeze the fruits in your freezer.
For that, take a clear container, place Pumpkins inside the container and wrap the top with plastic or aluminum wrap and keep it in your refrigerator.
Or you can wrap your clear Pumpkins with aluminum foil directly and keep them in your refrigerator.
One more frequent process to store Pumpkins for a long time is that just cut Pumpkins into several sections and remove the seeds. Then, cook the pieces until tender and take out the pulp from husk and mash it. After that, all you just need to do is that let the mashed Pumpkin cool and then pour it into the airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags to place them in your freezer.

You may love learn how to peel, store and make sun dried tomatoes.

DIY Video : Harvest and storage idea for pumpkin

Plants to Grow along with Pumpkin:

Pumpkin needs a different circumstance to grow but, it can be cultivated with several other companion plants. Sometimes, it is necessary to plants Pumpkin with a few suitable plants to get benefited by them! Thyme, sage, mint, cosmos, lavender, corn, beans, squash, melon, etc. are a few mentionable plants, which require similar dilemma as the Pumpkin plants. You can even try to plant onion, garlic plants along with Pumpkin too. These type of companions could keep the insects and pests away from your Pumpkin. Corn or bean companion could be used as a supporting structure of your Pumpkin plants. But, remember not to amalgamate any unsuitable companion for the Pumpkin plants, otherwise, it may rot or damage the fruit or even can prevent the healthy growth of your veggie!

You may want to learn beginners ideas on growing garlic and how to grow asparagus from seeds.

Growing Pumpkin from Seeds:

To grow Pumpkin from seeds, buy some fresh seeds from the market first.
Now after selecting a sunny place set the perfect composted soil with ideal pH balance as we mentioned above.
Now plant the seeds 2 inches deep in your land and leaves at least 6 inches gap between one seed to another. Then, cover each seed with more composts.
Sowing seeds over mound areas would be a great idea to get an outstanding result of your crops as this will give you a great drainage system even during the rainy season as well.
As much faster the soil gets heat up by the Sun, the seeds will start to germinate as hurriedly.
If you have chosen fresh and healthy seeds, then they will definitely start to sprout within one week.
Now water your plants whenever you see the moist of the soil seems low.
Then, all you need to follow is that the aforementioned steps to reach the perfect harvesting stage.

Love growing plants in containers learn how to grow tomatoes in containers.

Growing Pumpkin in Container:

To cultivate Pumpkin in a garden pot or container, pack some potting soil in your selected pot first and make certain that the container has enough holes in it for a proper drainage system.
Now, put 2 or 3 seeds 2 inches deep in the soil and cover the top with adequate compost.
Then, water your seeds as much as that the soil could get enough moist but it is not swamped!
After that, place the container in a bright window.
Once you see it starts germinating, remove the plant from the container without harming its root and then, place it into a 5-gallon
When the plant will get a height of 5 to 6 inches, try to set a stalk near the plant, inside the potting soil, so then it could get a proper support to grow perfectly.
Water, frequently and fertilize rarely are two imperative methods of having healthier and bigger Pumpkins. Now you only require waiting for the right time to harvest your Pumpkins.

How to grow pumpkin in a pot

Pumpkin Nutrition and Calories:

Pumpkin is a high nutrient vegetable that is rich in several beneficial vitamins, minerals, protein, and other nourishing contents. It contains vitamin E, Vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, copper, iron, folate, manganese and also enriched with dietary fiber. These excellences make this veggie a super healthy food supplement for sure! Thus, despite this fact that the fruity pulp of Pumpkin contains some calories, several health experts suggest to eat this valuable vegetable in several forms. Like cooked, boiled, baked, or as dessert as well.

Mentionable in this regards that every 100grms of pumpkin holds 26 calories from the saturated fat in its all kernels.

Not just bulk veggies you can also find ideas on Growing cilantro and growing flowers like hydrangeas and tulips.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin:

Pumpkin, particularly the seeds contain sufficient antioxidants that provide some extraordinary refreshment to your cells.
This vegetable works to lower blood pressure and caters a good heart condition.
Eating Pumpkin on a regular basis, not only give us a healthy heart condition but at the same time, it also helps to sleep better without any interruption.
This product also works for a glowing skin type as it contains vitamin C in its every bit.
This vegetable works for burning fats and increase the sharpness of your eyesight as well.

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Growing Pumpkin : How to grow pumpkin, Care, Harvest and Storage