Fall is the season for pumpkin harvests and festivals. From pies to seeds to Halloween jack-o’-lanterns, these fruits are indelibly autumn.
The definition of pumpkin is a hard thing to pin down. There are many cultivars of squash that are called pumpkin. All belong to the Cucurbitaceae or gourd family like winter squash, summer squash, and gourds. Most belong to the species Cucurbita pepo, but some are cultivars of other species in the Cucurbita (squash) genus such as C. maxima, C. argyrosperma, and C. moschata. They originate from Mexico and the southern United States and are among the oldest domesticated plants.
Most are round in shape with ribbed skins, and many are orange in color with orange flesh. Some green-skinned cucurbits, such as various types of green kabocha squash, are also called pumpkins.
Are you ready to add pumpkins to your veggie patch? Start with our growing guide and then use our supplemental articles to choose your cultivars and grow specific varieties for pie or for carving jack-o’-lanterns.
And then read the rest of our troubleshooting tips and tricks down below to ensure you have a successful harvest. Happy gardening!
Don’t let homegrown pumpkins rot before you can cook or carve them! Store the pumpkin harvest in a way that maximizes shelf life and flavor. This guide tells how long you can keep competition, pie, and jack-o’-lantern pumpkins after picking, and shares tips for storing them through Halloween – or even December.
Whether you grow field, pie, or hull-less pumpkin varieties, saving the seeds to eat is a bonus! Here’s how to pick the best varieties to grow if you want to roast the seeds, and how to spot the winter squash with the most seeds. Follow these selection and collection tips for a nutritious harvest ready to roast.
Collect, sort, dry, and store pumpkin seeds from open-pollinated varieties and you’ll have an abundant supply to sow for years to come. Some will still germinate after six years! Find directions here for timing and storage techniques, along with cautions about varieties that don’t work for seed savers. Read more.
If your pumpkin vine died just a few weeks before harvest time, you’re probably at a loss for what to do with your green pumpkins. But did you know there’s something you can do to help them turn orange? In this guide, learn our favorite trick, and discover a few reasons why vines may die early. Read more.
Many common factors can cause pumpkin plants to wilt, ranging from soil that is too dry or wet to a number of potentially devastating disease pathogens and insects. Purging infected plants from your garden and controlling pests can help to save your pumpkins. Read more now to learn how to troubleshoot in your garden.
Pumpkin plants are highly susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal infection can affect the quality of the fruit. In severe cases, it can destroy your whole crop. However, there are treatments available and preventative measures you can take. Learn how to prevent and treat powdery mildew on your pumpkins in this guide.
Are you having trouble figuring out how to tell if your homegrown pumpkins are ripe and ready for picking? In this guide, we reveal the five signs that your gourds are ready to harvest. Plus, we discuss the proper way to pick a pumpkin and the one important step you shouldn’t miss. Learn all you need to know now.
Is your pumpkin vine taking over the garden, growing faster than you can contain it? Don’t lose hope. Growing your gourds vertically can tame those unruly vines, and training pumpkins on a trellis also helps to keep them free of pests and disease. To learn everything you need to know, read more now.
Ever wondered if milk can actually make your pumpkin grow bigger? Or are you simply trying to grow a giant gourd to enter into a state fair? If so, you’re not alone. There’s a thriving community of giant pumpkin growers worldwide, and you can join them. Learn everything you need to know about growing giant pumpkins in our guide. Read more now.
The culinary value of pumpkins goes beyond enjoying the tasty flesh in soups and pies – the seeds can be just as useful as a healthy snack that’s packed with essential nutrients. Making your own roasted pumpkin seeds from homegrown squash is a simple way to help utilize all parts of the pumpkin. Read on to learn more.
Carving is cool, but it’s also fun to grow pumpkins that are great for cooking. From heirloom giants to hybrid minis, these 11 pumpkin picks are a home chef’s dream. Try them in your favorite fall soups, breads, pancakes, and even pumpkin lasagna, and freeze the excess from your bumper crop to enjoy all year long.
If you’re growing pumpkins, you might be wondering how and when to fertilize your plants for an abundant harvest of gorgeous gourds. Pumpkins are heavy feeders, and the plants need different nutrients in different growth stages. Discover how to fertilize your plants with the right nutrients at the right times. Read more.
You’ve sown and nourished pumpkins, and they’ve grown vines, leaves, and flowers. But you’re not seeing any fruit at all. Or maybe you see some fruit, but far less than you expected. What went wrong? In this article, you’ll learn the top 5 reasons why your pumpkin isn’t fruiting, plus what to do next. Read more now.
If you’re growing your pumpkins indoors or in a greenhouse, or simply don’t have many bees around, you might be wondering how you’ll get any fruit. Pumpkin pollination requires bees, after all. But here’s a secret: you can hand pollinate your own gourds. Learn everything you need to know in our guide. Read more now.
If you’re wondering how and when to prune your pumpkin vines to keep them healthy and productive, you might feel confused. By trimming your pumpkin plants, you’ll grow an abundant harvest of gourds, and minimize pest and disease issues. In this guide, you’ll discover which vines to trim, and how and when to do it.
You’ve nourished and cared for your pumpkin seedlings, and they’ve grown vines and leaves. Flowers should’ve appeared by now, but you don’t see any blooms – and no flowers means no fruit. Did something go wrong? Read more now to learn the top 5 reasons why your pumpkin vine isn’t blooming, and what to do about it.
Pumpkins are an excellent crop to grow for a bounty of gourds for fall decorations and, of course, pie. But what should you grow alongside your pumpkins? Learn about the best companion plants to grow in your pumpkin patch for pest control, soil improvement, and to maintain diversity in your garden. Read more now.
Have you always wanted your own pumpkin patch, filled with winter squash that are perfect for cooking and decorating throughout the fall? It’s not as hard as you might think. From small cultivars to large homegrown varieties that are ready to be carved into jack-o’-lanterns, we’ve got you covered. Read more now.
If you want to grow pumpkins to make pie, puree, and other delicious treats, which variety should you plant? While you can make pie out of many pumpkin cultivars, some have sweeter flesh than others. Learn about 11 of the best pie pumpkins to grow in your garden now on Gardener’s Path.
If you’re getting ready to plant your Halloween pumpkins, you might need help choosing the perfect varieties for that spooky night. In this guide, you’ll learn the best varieties to grow whether you’re carving, painting, eating, or just setting out the bright veggies for decoration. Read on to discover your favorites.
Nothing says Halloween like jack-o’-lanterns, but what good are they if they rot before you can say trick-or-treat? Before you go to the farmers market, read 9 quick tips to make carved pumpkins last longer. From selecting the best to inhibiting moisture, we’ve got ideas you can use, right here on Gardener’s Path.