Planting Pumpkins at My Farm
This year’s pumpkin patches are planted.
As you may know, pumpkins grow on vines, which means they take up a lot of space. I always plant my pumpkin patches in roomy beds that can accommodate large crops of big, colorful fruits. We have two expansive areas where we like to plant our pumpkins - one is next to the chicken coops and the vegetable gardens, and the other is up behind my main greenhouse. Over the last few days, we planted lots and lots of seeds, and some of the varieties should be ready to harvest in about 100-days.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Ryan prepared all the seeds and markers for our pumpkin patches. We always use seeds from various seed companies, and seeds I save from interesting or tasty pumpkins I’ve enjoyed. This year, most of our pumpkin seeds are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
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- The area behind my greenhouse was cleared and prepared for planting. The soil must be thoroughly warmed to at least 70-degrees Fahrenheit – pumpkins are very sensitive to the cold.
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- This year, we put down long sheets of weed cloth in between the rows where the pumpkin seeds will be planted. The weed cloth will hopefully cut down on a lot of time spent weeding this summer.
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- Ryan places markers in each of the rows to mark where seeds will go. It is easier to work in an assembly line process – it is faster and more efficient, especially if you’re planting a lot of different varieties.
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- Pumpkins do best when the seeds are planted directly into the ground. Pumpkins prefer rich soil that is well-drained and not soggy.
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- These seeds are treated and colored. In agriculture and horticulture, seed treatment is also known as seed dressing. They are coated with an antimicrobial. The added color makes the seeds less attractive to birds and easier to see in case of accidental spillage.
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- Most of our seeds are not treated. Here, Ryan drops the seeds into the planting area and checks that they are not hollow or old – they should be firm and evenly colored without blotches or discolored patches that could indicate disease. Choose seeds that have also been air dried instead of oven dried, which could remove too much of the seed’s natural moisture.
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- Ryan plants about five or six seeds in each spot, with each seed about an inch to an inch and a half deep into the soil.
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- Planting pumpkin seeds is very easy, but they do need a lot of room to grow.
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- Some of the pumpkins we are planting here include ‘Rival’. ‘Rival’ pumpkins are big, round, medium-sized jack-o’-lanterns with intermediate resistance to powdery mildew. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Wolf’ pumpkins have massive handles and can weigh up to 24-pounds. They are distinctive, round pumpkins with a deep orange color and moderate ribs. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Kakai’ is an eye-catching, medium to small, black-striped pumpkin. After displaying the pumpkins in the fall, it’s nice to scoop out the large, dark-green, hull-less seeds – they’re delicious roasted. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Porcelain Doll’ is a popular favorite. It is a pink pumpkin with sweet flesh that can be used for pies, soups, and other gourmet delights. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- And Valenciano has snow-white skin – it is among the whitest of pumpkins. It makes a unique for doorstep decoration. Valenciano pumpkins are slightly ribbed, medium-sized and flatter in appearance. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- One field is all planted. We should have wheelbarrows full of pumpkins come October.
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- Weed cloth is also put down in the pumpkin patch down by the chicken coops. This weed cloth is available at any garden supply shop.
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- Here, Ryan tills the soil using the Tillie V2 Articulating Tiller Head from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. He tills every row where the seeds will be planted.
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- This electric tiller is perfect for smaller scale gardens. A hub motor drives the tool which can be used to till beds and cultivate pathways. Best of all, because it uses a battery, there are no fumes and it is very quiet.
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- Once all the rows are tilled, Dawa follows behind with the compost. These pumpkins will be planted in “hills” to allow the soil to warm more quickly, while encouraging the seeds to germinate faster.
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- These “hills” are the perfect size for planting the pumpkin seeds.
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- Our new summer intern, Kayley Presby-Gaines, sweeps any extra compost off the weed cloth and onto the ‘hills’ making the beds look neat and tidy.
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- These mounds are now ready for planting. Each ‘hill’ will be a separate pumpkin variety.
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- Ryan prepares all the seeds and markers for this pumpkin patch. We get all our wooden markers from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They are made of natural birchwood and are about four-inches long – perfect for the garden or for pots.
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- Ryan then places one marker on each ‘hill’, so the pumpkins can be identified during the growing process.
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- And then begins placing the pumpkin seeds down as he did in the other field, discarding any that are old or in bad condition.
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- Seed orientation makes no difference to germination or growth. The important thing is to keep them consistently moist. Pumpkins are 80 to 90-percent water depending on the variety, and adequate moisture is crucial for healthy, productive plants.
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- Here he is pushing each seed down into the soil. Pumpkin seeds should sprout within seven to 10-days from planting.
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- Other pumpkins we are planting in this area include ‘Racer’ – highly uniform 12 to 16-pound fruits with slightly-flattened shapes, great-looking ribs, and strong dark-green handles. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Winter Luxury’ pumpkins have a silky textured flesh that’s perfect for pies. This small pumpkin also has a unique, netted skin that makes it not only a gorgeous ornamental, but tasty too. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Flatso’ pumpkins are small, flat oval shaped, dark orange pumpkins with medium ribs and thin, dark handles. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Knuckle Head’ pumpkins are unusual, orange, and warted. They are spectacular for Halloween. (Photo from Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
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- ‘Cargo’ pumpkins are robust hybrid fruits with strong handles and beautiful rich orange color.
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- And ‘Tom Fox’ was developed by New Hampshire farmer, Tom Fox. The well-ribbed, medium large pumpkins have a deep orange color and good handles: fat, long, dark green, and strong.
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- Both fields will also be covered in hay. Hay mulch enhances the look of the garden, avoids muddiness in the paths, keeps the pumpkins off the earth. This patch will soon be full of colorful pumpkins. What pumpkins are you planting this season?
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