Organic in the Garden – 5 Steps to growing Pumpkin in your home garden

Pumpkins are a popular vegetable grown in many home gardens around the world. There are many species, all of which propagate easily from seed and can be used in a variety of ways in the home kitchen. They are ideally grown using organic inputs and methods.

Pumpkins grow well in most situations where they receive adequate drainage allowing the soil to remain damp but not waterlogged. A slightly shaded position is ideal because pumpkins can transpire drastically under direct sunlight. Pumpkins do not tolerate frost well as a result is grown as a summer vegetable.

One of the few problems for most home gardens will be the space required to grow your pumpkins. Because the plants creep along the ground, a single seed can take up a lot of otherwise useful ground space, which could have been used for other vegetable plants. This situation can be overcome by using a trellis to grow smaller pumpkin species along. Larger pumpkins are not usually suitable for use growing along a trellis due to the weight of the pumpkins as they begin to develop – but there are work arounds. I have seen some clever alternatives allowing large pumpkins to grow along trellis.

A friend showed me his “pumpkin tables” a couple of years ago. They were cleverly crafted tables that could hook into any part of the trellis wherever a pumpkin began to develop. As the pumpkin (fruit) grew it would sit on the table for support, protecting it from falling prematurely and taking the stress off the plant as it developed.

There are 5 simple steps to growing organic pumpkins successfully every time in any home garden environment.

  1. The seed you choose will be based on your own preference. Soft skinned pumpkins are easy to cut but do not have an extended shelf life. Harder skins are hard to prepare but they do have a greatly extended shelf life.
  2. As with any planting the soil should be rich with plenty of compost and manures dug in. Pumpkins are best planted straight in their final growing position, however they can be started off under cover if you are hoping for an early crop. Small mounds can be prepared around 30cm high and seeds planted in the top of these mounds. Plant seeds around 2 inches deep. Water well and cover with a protective bird netting to stop birds or other critters digging at the mounds before the seeds germinate.
  3. The seeds will emerge within a couple of weeks and once established the bird netting can be removed. Pumpkins can grow pretty well without further effort other than maintaining adequate water, particularly during extended dry spells. Some well rotten chicken manure can be added after the plants have established if you desire.
  4. If you choose to grow your pumpkins along a trellis, you will have already added a structure before planting the seeds. As the pumpkins grow you will begin training them along the trellis. Alternatively they can be grown along the ground in a fashion that does not cause them to take over the whole garden.
  5. Mulching is generally not required if the plants are grown over the ground, however, if you grow them along a trellis, a thick covering of pea straw will help retain moisture over hot periods.

Due to their intolerance to frost, Pumpkins should be planted after the risk of frost has passed and should be harvested before autumn frosts begin.

July 3, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Growing Organic Vegetables

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