GROWING PUMPKINS

Growing pumpkins requires some work but is one of the most rewarding crops to grow!  There are two types of pumpkins: pie and field.  We have ordered Howden,  the original “Jack O’Lantern” developed in the Berkshires by John Howden in the mid-1970’s. Although you can cook it, Howden Pumpkin won’t be as tasty, but does make exceptional jack-o’-lanterns, the smooth skin lends itself to easy painting, and is stunning on its own. Pick up your pumpkin seeds while supply lasts!

Step #1 Prepare: The first thing you must do is assess your planting location. The Howden variety is a traditional vining pumpkin and needs ample room to grow.  Choose a spacious area that gets plenty of full sun with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.

Make sure the soil’s pH is close to 6.5 because, like most pumpkins and squash, Howden pumpkins grow best at this level. Mix either homemade or store-bought compost or aged manure into the soil. Pumpkins are greedy feeders and need lots of nutrient-dense soil to grow. 

Step #2 Plant: Pile mounds of soil into hills and space hills 6 feet apart. To prevent weeds and increase soil temperature cover the whole area with black plastic mulch. Plant 3 -5 seeds one inch deep in each hill. 

Howden pumpkins are a smaller variety of pumpkin.  They can be trellised if you’re short on space. Expect anywhere from 2-5 pumpkins per plant, so plan accordingly.

Step #3 Care

Howden pumpkins need regular watering and feeding to grow vines and produce robust fruit. Be sure to water at a rate of 1 to 1 ½ inches each week and don’t let the soil dry out. Once the young plants have established, choose a feed high in phosphorus and feed at regular intervals.

Keep an eye out for yellow blooms. They should appear about 10 weeks after planting and a week after that you should start seeing the first pumpkins appear. From there, it takes a Howden pumpkin about 45-55 days to reach maturity, or, “jack-o-lantern size.”  As Howden pumpkins grow, you can turn them to encourage a more symmetrical shape. Setting developing fruits on plastic tarps, old tiles, or scraps of wood will help prevent rot from developing.

Howden pumpkins are ready to pick when they are deep orange in coloring and the surrounding stems and vines have dried up and turned brown.  When used for decorating purposes, remember that the stem is what gives a Howden pumpkin its character. Be sure to use a sharp knife when cutting the stem and always carry by the base to avoid breaking the stalk.