How to Grow Pumpkins From Seed - Step By Step

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Growing plants from pumpkin seeds

Pumpkins and squash are easy to plant and grow from seed, they are rewarding and with many varieties, you can grow some great tasting ones. Seeds germinate easily and we show you how to speed up germination as well.

A Quick Note on Fertiliser for Pumpkins

• It is actually best to fertilise with high nitrogen fertilisers before planting.
• After the vines develop, and before flowering, keep away from high nitrogen
fertilisers as this can cause the female flowers to fail.
• Once the flowers appear use a high phosphorus fertiliser low nitrogen.
• As the fruits appear use a high potassium fertiliser

Fertilisers are identified by NPK values - Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). So a balanced fertiliser will be labeled 10:10:10 (equal parts of the three elements) For each stage you want the number for the appropriate element to be higher than the other two.

Planting Pumpkins and squash seeds is the same for all types, in this video we show you how we plant two varieties Potimarron and Galeux d’ eysines.

Below are the steps we outline in the video

1.Pumpkins are best planted in full sun.
2.You can grow them in containers and let them trail over the edge.
3.Pumpkins like its of nutrients, good rich soil is best.
4.Seeds are best planted directly into the ground, you can soak them first in lukewarm water for slightly faster gemination, and often better germination rates.
5.Wait until the soil begins to warm up in spring before planting.
6.If you hill up the soil a little it will warm up a little more quickly.
7.Seeds are planted at around 3 cm deep (1 inch)
8.Germination will take around 5 - 8 days in good conditions.
9.Larger growing types should be planted at least 1.5 metres apart. (5ft)
Smaller types can be closer.
10.Use a high nitrogen fertiliser around 3 weeks after seed germination.
11.After that use a seaweed / fish emulsion fertiliser or pellets..
12.Water well , especially once they start to flower.
13. As the fruit forms you can lift it and sit it on a piece of wood or similar to prevent the base from getting to wet.
14. Wait until the skin changes colour before harvesting.
The skin should be hard.
15.Leave a stem, or handle on the pumpkin when you harvest it.
16. Sit the pumpkin in the sun for 5 - 7 days after harvesting to cure.
Store in a cool dry position.

[peterfli]

Thank you so much! My daughters have been asking for me to plant pumpkins on our farm this year. Now we can sell some and save up for a 3rd horse!

[mrjeff]

I started composting last year. For Halloween we got our daughters some pumpkins to color on. Threw them in the compost pile around December. Now in May... PUMPKIN PLANTS EVERYWHERE! In both of our compost piles lol. Pretty sure every seed from both pumpkins have germinated! Lol.. well! our 1st garden is doing really good off the start. And pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin soup for the next year it is!

[breadroll]

Great video, informative and explained well. I got into growing my own veg this year during lockdown and am planning ahead for next season. Can't wait to try my hand at some pumpkins.

[oneilanelson]

Its not a waste of time to plant pumpkin seeds in pot first when you have fowls in the yard. They even dig up the pots so I put the pots in side till they're ready for transplanting.

[karenwingard]

what good advice stated in such a soothing and mater of fact way! thank you can't wait to start my own!

[alexisslone]

Just went to the pumpkin patch and it got me thinking about growing some pumpkins for my little brother! I’ve never grown pumpkins before so thanks for the vid! :)

[michelleelks]

I love the sound of your voice. Very soothing. I really appreciate Your video. Im also going to be planting pumpkin seeds this year.

[landsea]

Thanks for this nice video, you keep a nice pace, not to fast so easy to follow and not to slow so it doesnt get boring. Can you give a reasonable estimate how many pumpkins one can expect fro one plant? I have planted pumping a couple of times and normally get only one medium sized pumpkin per plant (Central Italy).

[thsluglord]

I accidentally grew a pumpkin patch from old jack o lanterns a long time ago. Going to try and grow some on purpose this year, hopefully it is just as easy!

[Montyrico_Outdoors]

I recently discovered pumkins growing from an old composted pumkin that was sitting on some dirt on top of conrete in my back yard. there was at least 15 of them. i took 9 of them and put them in a 20 gallon tote. gonna weed them out from there. so I believed every word when you said "pumkins are easy to grow" for sure 🤣

[blairtheageese]

Thank you right to the point not wasting our time, and I learn t a lot 👍👀✔

[sararocks]

I have grown pumpkins in my garden before and planted some this spring they are the easiest plant of all sort of vegetables to grow all they need is space water n sun

[lisavargas]

good advice how I can get started with my pumpkins.

[PolynHoare]

Thank you for tutorial how to plant pumpkin seed

[droy]

Nice video. I had issues with my pumpkins being pollinated. I eventually just stopped wrapping the runners around (they're planted in old truck tyres) and they then pollinated and didn't die off. I will have to get some less unruly seeds for next year I think (or ideally, set aside a couple hundred m2 for a veggie garden).

[annasafavi]

Thank you so much 🥰 my 3 year old is despirate to grow his own pumpkins as he loves the nightmare before Christmas 😂

[rosemarymurray]

Great information I will be trying this thank you !

[ronsaddler]

We're were carving pumpkins like we do every year and my wife just threw the seeds in the yard and yea they just grew. We didn't expect them to grow but it's a real thing

[josephnaughton]

Great video just knowledge with no bull dust many thanks Joe

[saifonhadder]

Any tips on transferring pumpkins? Soil prep or preferred temp?