How to grow pumpkins Maryna Petrenko-Shvets – Getty Images
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Is there anything more beautiful than seeing a field full of orange pumpkins in the fall? Or rows of pumpkins in your garden? Pumpkins are definitely the star of the fall season, but you'll start planting your pumpkin garden long before the air is crisp. That's why it's helpful to be prepared with some valuable tips from gardening experts.
If you've never grown pumpkins before, here are a few reasons to get started: Lara Hermanson, president and co-owner of Farmscape, a company that designs and installs sustainable gardens in California, thinks that pumpkins are “one of the easiest wild vegetables to grow” (they can grow vines that reach 15 to 30 feet), but they're also fun to discover in all sorts of colors, delicious, and versatile for culinary use.
“When you plant it in the right conditions, it grows incredibly well,” Hermanson said. “It's one of those crops that's really rewarding and magical to watch grow.”
John Coykendall, master gardener at Blackberry Farm Resort in Tennessee, believes pumpkins are popular with gardeners for both decorative and culinary uses.
“Pumpkins come in a variety of sizes and colors, so it's easy to find a pumpkin for any occasion,” he says, “and growing pumpkins is rewarding for the whole family. Kids love the variety of small ornamental pumpkins, it's a good choice for people with limited gardening space, and parents can use pumpkins for meals.”
To grow the best pumpkins, read the helpful tips and tricks below.
How to Choose the Right Pumpkin Variety to Grow
The first step to successful gardening? “Pick the right variety for your goals,” advises Hermanson. “There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of pumpkin varieties. For school gardens, I choose varieties like Zilby Little, which produces lots of small, uniform fruit. For chefs, I choose varieties like Marina de Chioggia or Mousquet de Provence.”
Hermanson recommends looking through a seed catalog like Johnny's Seeds to learn about varieties before choosing.
