Pumpkins: Planting the Seeds of Halloween

Pumpkins: A Versatile Crop for Your Garden

Pumpkins, once a staple crop of the American Indians, today have triple value: They make delicious pies, have tasty seeds, and are a popular Halloween ornament.

Because pumpkin plants quickly outgrow containers, they are usually not found in nurseries and must be grown from seed, says Sharon Kaszan of W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a mail-order seed company in Warminster, PA.

Planting Time: “Plant pumpkin seeds before the end of June, and you’ll have pumpkins for Halloween,” she says.

Pumpkin seeds can be bought at nurseries and through catalogs. Besides the traditional 8- to 10-pound orange pumpkin, you’ll find unusual varieties such as:

  • ‘Lumina’: An 8- to 10-pound pumpkin with ghostly white skin and an orange interior.
  • ‘Jack Be Little’: A miniature orange pumpkin that is just 3 inches high and 2 inches in diameter.
  • ‘Baby Boo’: A small, white pumpkin similar in size to ‘Jack Be Little’.
Giant Pumpkin

There are also giant pumpkins, some capable of reaching hundreds of pounds. ‘Prizewinner’ is an exhibition-size pumpkin that has been known to surpass 450 pounds. Generally growing between 100 to 200 pounds, it has smooth, glossy, bright reddish-orange skin.

Growing Pumpkins: Tips for Success

To have success growing pumpkins, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Choose a Sunny Location: Pumpkins need plenty of space to grow. Giant pumpkins can have vines up to 25 feet long, so provide five feet in each direction. Small pumpkins can be grown on trellises with some training.
  • Soil and Drainage: Pumpkins prefer rich soil with good drainage. Amend the soil with 50% compost, either homemade or bagged.
  • Mulching: Once pumpkin plants are growing, it’s impossible to weed around them without damaging the plants. Apply a 2- to 3-inch-thick compost mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
  • Watering: Keep pumpkin plants well-watered. Inadequate watering will cause slow growth. Once established, a good soak once a week is generally sufficient.
  • Fertilizing: Feed the plant regularly with a slow-release, all-purpose vegetable fertilizer such as a 5-5-5 mix. Avoid fertilizers with higher numbers as they can cause rapid leaf growth but hinder fruit development. Fertilize when the plant starts growing, when it vines, when it blossoms, and when blossoms set fruit.
  • Container Growing: If you want to grow pumpkins in containers, the only option is baby pumpkins. Plant one vine in a half barrel and provide a trellis for support. Expect a smaller yield than in-ground planting.
  • Harvesting: Pumpkins are ready to harvest when the vine dies back. The longer they stay on the vine, the sweeter they become.

Where to Buy Pumpkin Seeds

Here are some companies that carry pumpkin seeds:

  • Bountiful Gardens: Carries seeds from various countries. Phone: (707) 459-6410
  • W. Atlee Burpee & Co.: Phone: (800) 888-1447
  • Park Seed: Phone: (800) 845-3369
  • Nichols Garden Nursery: Phone: (541) 928-9280


Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a bestselling journalist, novelist, blogger, and YouTuber. A prolific author, Julie writes in several genres. She enjoys creating page-turning suspense served up with a dose of romance, garden books that turn any brown thumb green, and spiritual books meant to enlighten and inspire. Widely published, Julie has written 45 books and more than 4,000 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sunny, blue skies most days and year-round gardening. Julie gains inspiration from being surrounded by plants when she writes.