Growing pumpkins is something he has done for a long time, and I used to be a part of the planting process as a child, but it has been a long time. I am hoping for these to be my forever pumpkins by saving and replanting seeds, now that he is gone, so I really want these to succeed.
They just started sprouting over the last couple days and I am looking for advice on how to best care for them before they are planted in the ground. I am in SE WI, and planning to do so around the end of May, but am unsure how to handle them until then, as we’ve usually planted directly, but the wet season we had prevented that.
Thank you in advance.
by joooodzz
6 Comments
Make sure they get sun light. Don’t let them dry out but don’t let them soggy. After you have 2 true leaves you can plan on replanting. If borer vine beetles or squash bugs are a problem there, cover them with woven crop/row cover fabric until the female flowers begin to bloom.
Make sure you provide lots of sun. They love it and will get leggy otherwise – if you don’t have a bright enough window pick up some grow lights /bulbs.
If the roots start outgrowing the peat pots, which may happen as they are so quick and aggressive growing, you can pot them up to the next size pot. But may not be necessary!
After those first little seed leaves you see, “true” leaves will begin to emerge that will look like pumpkins. Wait till a couple true leaves have emerged to begin fertilizing.
1 week or so before your last frost date slowly begin hardening your plants off. You’ll do this by placing your plants out in the shade at first and slowly building up sun exposure over the course of a week or so. Start with morning / late afternoon sun and stay away from midday sun at first, then slowly build up exposure to that too
Sorry for your loss. 🤗
His pumpkins are further along than mine… Wish you all the best with these memories
You are a little further north than me- I recommend getting these outside into compost mounds spread well apart when they have just the beginnings of a true leaf, or when it’s above 60 almost all the time, whatever happens first. Keep them in close to full sun, give them a chance to spread along the ground, trimming the vines to make a pitchfork pattern. Prune the old leaves to prevent disease, spray copper to keep fungus off in the humid times, remove about half the female flowers to ensure the fruits are happy and healthy, bury the vines to encourage them to root, and lastly- fertilize and amend at intervals- nitrogen for early stages, 10-10-10 for the main season, and Epsom salt for yellowing leaves.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope these pumpkins can be a great tribute to him for you!