Planting Pumpkins

• Pumpkins grow on vines, and the plants can cover a lot of ground. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep and 1 to 2 feet apart in regular garden soil. Once your seeds germinate, thin the seedlings to one every 2 to 3 feet, pulling the smallest and weakest seedlings and leaving the best ones behind to grow.
  
  

Time Frame

• If you want pumpkins for Halloween, you need to plant them in the spring, right after the danger of frost has passed. If you want to grow the giant, 200-lb. varieties, you should start your seeds indoors even earlier to give them time to grow to their full size. Miniature varieties should be planted by early June to ensure a fall harvest.
  
  

Care

• Water your pumpkins deeply about once a week, until the ground is saturated. Pumpkins perform well in the dry heat of summer and will wilt if over-watered. Watch out for pests like rabbits or deer, and use a deterrent if needed to protect your pumpkins. Pull weeds by hand if needed.