Cut pumpkins from the vines carefully, using pruning shears or a sharp knife and leave 3 to 4 inches of stem attached. If vines die prematurely from disease or other causes, harvest the mature fruit and store them in a moderately warm, dry place until Halloween. If vines remain healthy, harvest in late September or early October, before heavy frosts. Pumpkins can be harvested whenever they are a deep, solid color (orange for most varieties) and the rind is hard. As new blossoms open each day and bees land only inside the open blossoms, these pollinating insects should be safe from contact with any potentially deadly sprays. When insecticides are used, they should be applied only in late afternoon or early evening when the blossoms have closed for the day and bees are no longer visiting the blossoms. Pumpkins tolerate short periods of hot, dry weather pretty well.īees, that are necessary for pollinating squash and pumpkins, may be killed by insecticides. Irrigate if an extended dry period occurs in early summer. Pumpkin plants should be kept free from weeds by hoeing and shallow cultivation. Plant bush varieties one inch deep (1 or 2 seeds per foot of row) and thin to a single plant every 3 feet. Rows should be 6 to 8 feet apart, with seedlings thinned to the best plant every 2 feet when they have their first true leaves. Plant miniature varieties one inch deep, with two or three seeds every 2 feet in the row. Allow 4 feet between hills and 8 feet between rows. Plant semi-bush varieties one inch deep (four or five seeds per hill) and thin to the best two plants per hill. When the young plants are well-established, thin each hill to the best two or three plants. Allow 5 to 6 feet between hills, spaced in rows 10 to 15 feet apart. Plant seeds one inch deep (four or five seeds per hill). Vining pumpkins require a minimum of 50 to 100 square feet per hill. If pumpkins are planted too early, they may soften and rot before Halloween. Plant pumpkins for Halloween from late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern sites. Do not plant until all danger of frost has passed, and the soil has thoroughly warmed. The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Besides being used as jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween, pumpkins are used to make pumpkin butter, pies, custard, bread, cookies and soup. Pumpkin is a warm-season vegetable that can be grown throughout much of the United States.
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