The Halloween season kicks off in July, at least according to gardening standards, and if you’re looking to grow your own pumpkins for spooky jack-o’-lanterns or fall festive centerpieces, early to mid-July is the time to get pumpkin seeds in the ground.
BethanYeah OriaAlabama Cooperative Extension System home sites, gardens, homes pest A representative from the local agency said the variety of pumpkin a gardener plants will depend on what they plan to use the pumpkin for.
“There are also pumpkin varieties that are great for carving, making pies, and more.” Oria “We also have lots of unusual varieties, such as Cinderella and warty pumpkins, that are great for decorating; in addition to the traditional orange pumpkins. Quite unique Colors such as green, yellow, tan, and red, White And even blue.”
When purchasing seeds, check the packaging for the number of harvest days. Below are some common pumpkin cultivars:
Miniature“Baby Boo‘, “Bumpkin‘, “Jack Be Little‘, “Munchkin” and “WeOne‘
small. “Babymoon‘, ‘Darling‘, ‘Iron Man‘, “Little Giant” and “Small Sugar”
Moderate. “Autumn Gold‘, “Goosebumps II”‘, “The big fuss‘, “Orange Bulldog” and “Rouge VifDetamp‘
big. Cinderella‘, ‘fairy tale‘, ‘gold medal‘, “Magician” and “Wizard”
For information on other pumpkin cultivars, see the Extension Brief “Pumpkin cultivation managementPeople interested in growing pumpkins can also contact agricultural extension agents in their local home region for information on specific cultivars.
Pumpkins, like any other vegetable, need to be planted in well-drained soil. This is especially important for: Pumpkin, because The fruit touches the ground directly: if the soil is constantly wet, the pumpkins will rot on the vine.
Oria It’s a good idea to try planting your pumpkins on top of mounded soil, which will allow gravity to help the water drain better. Drain They need to be planted away from plants, and in a location that gets full sun. Approx. 6 Get 8 hours of sunlight every day.
“Please note that pumpkins are a vine crop so they will take up a lot of space.” Oria “You don’t necessarily need to have a huge garden, but be sure to choose a spot that has space for pumpkins to grow.”
Pumpkins are part of the Cucurbitaceae family, the same family as other vegetables such as cucumbers and squash. As a cucurbit, one of the biggest management problems for pumpkins are fungal diseases. These include: Downey Powdery mildew, wilt, wilt, and late blight.
“It’s not impossible to grow pumpkins organically, but it’s very difficult because of fungal diseases.” Oria “Cultural practices such as crop rotation Very helpful It also helps in managing the disease. Very important Monitor for symptoms and use fungicides if necessary.”
cultural Practices involve changing the growing environment. This can include changing planting times, crop rotation, Grass cutting and irrigation. Contact your county extension office Home Grounds Area Representative for management recommendations.
Pumpkins and winter squash are harvested at different times than other vegetables – for example, summer squash are harvested when they are immature – but it is important to wait to harvest pumpkins and winter squash until they are fully mature.
“After harvest, pumpkins are” Hardeningwhich will extend the life of the pumpkin.” Oria “This process also helps heal wounds, ripens unripe fruit and improves color.”
Justin Miller writes for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.
