Space pumpkins 1.5m apart in all directions.
Pumpkins produce long trailing vines and need lots of space in a warm, sunny position.
Before planting dig a hole about 30cm square and 30cm deep. Mix the soil from the hole with an equal amount of fertile fibrous material, such as well rotted farmyard manure or garden compost. Refill the hole making a mound with the remaining soil. Space the mounds about 1.5 meters apart.
The young pumpkin plant will need hardening off before it is planted in the garden. Do this by putting the pot outside during the day for a week so that it gets used to the conditions outdoors. The plant will still need protecting from cold winds and frosts when it is first planted by covering it with a cloche or similar structure. Listen to the weather forecasts and if frost is expected put horticultural fleece or a newspaper over the leaves at night.
Water the pot the night before planting so that the soil will hold together. Make a hole in the prepared ground about the size of the pot. Carefully remove the plant from the pot by holding the stem and tipping the pot upside down.
Place the root ball into the hole, and still holding on to the stem, push the soil around the roots so that they are in contact with the soil all around and underneath. Firm the soil down.
Gently water the plant so that the soil is well soaked. It is not necessary to water every day. Keep an eye on the soil in hot weather and if it starts to dry out or the leaves begin to wilt, give it another soaking. Always water under the plant canopy directly on to the soil so that the leaves do not get wet. Put a stick beside the plant so that you can find the centre when it is hidden by all the growing vines. This is where the water will need to go.
Controlling the Vines
The long stems can be controlled to prevent the pumpkin taking over the garden. To do this cut off the tip of the main vine when it reaches 5m long. Secondary runners will grow off the main vine and these can be cut when they are 3m. Any stems coming off the secondary vine can be removed as they appear.
Another way to stop the vines spreading all over the garden is to gently move them so they make a circular formation around the mound.
Flowering
After 4 or 5 weeks a large yellow flower will appear on a single stem. Pumpkins have separate male and female flowers, and the female flowers need to be pollinated (fertilised) with pollen from the male flower to get a pumpkin. Insects do the pollinating by carrying the pollen from the male flower to the female flower. The more insects you see buzzing around the flowers the better. Once the job has been done the male flowers will drop off.
If you are interested you can help the insects along by having a go at pollinating yourself. The male flower looks similar to the female on the outside, but inside the flower the male has a bright yellow stamen which is covered in yellow pollen. The female flower has a shorter stem than the male and looks quite different inside, with a multilobed fleshy centre called a stigma.
Use a dry feather or a paint brush to carry the pollen from the inside of the male flower to the stigma inside the female flower, lightly brushing the pollen onto the stigma.
When the female flower has been pollinated a little ball at the base of the flower will start to develop – and this grows into your pumpkin.
Thinning Out
One plant can’t usually grow more than two or three pumpkins satisfactorily. When there are two or three growing, cut off any others that form. This will allow the plant to put all its energy into those left on the plant so that they become good-sized pumpkins. To be on the safe side for Halloween, it may be worth keeping just one, to make sure it is a big one.
Raise the Pumpkin off the Ground
It will take about 50 days for the pumpkin to reach a good size after pollination. When it gets to the size of a melon carefully lift it off the ground and set it on a brick, or wadge of straw, keeping the stems intact. This will keep it dry and stop it rotting off while it continues to grow.
Trim the leaves around the pumpkin so it is not shaded from the sun.
Harvest
Harvest the pumpkin before there is a risk of frost. The skin of the pumpkin will harden off and develop a good colour as it matures. They can be harvested by cutting the stalk with secateurs or a sharp knife, leaving as long a stalk as possible.
Leave the pumpkins in the sun, once cut, for a good week. This will allow them to continue to mature. But bring them in if a frost is forecast. Mature pumpkins can be stored for several months in a cool, dry, well-ventilated garage or shed.
Pumpkin soup and pumpkin pies will be enjoyed by all the family.
Pumpkin slice
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