Pumpkin Seeds - Jack O Lantern - Curcubita maxima

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

USDA Zones 3-12 - Grows as a warm-season annual across all zones. A successful harvest depends on providing a long, sunny, and frost-free growing period of at least 100 days.

Best performance in Zones 4-9 where long, warm summers provide the ideal growing conditions for the large vines to spread out and produce multiple, well-formed pumpkins.

Northern Zones (3-5) - To ensure pumpkins mature before the first fall frost, start seeds indoors in peat pots 2-3 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant carefully to avoid root disturbance. Using black plastic mulch can help warm the soil and give plants a strong start.

Hot Climate Zones (9-12) - Plant seeds in the early spring as soon as the soil is warm enough. In areas with extremely hot summers, ensure consistent, deep watering and consider a layer of mulch to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.

Soil Temperature - Requires very warm soil to germinate. Do not plant until the soil temperature is consistently at least 65 degrees F. The optimal temperature range for rapid germination is 70-95 degrees F.

Growing Season - Requires a long, frost-free growing season of 100-120 days. Plan your planting time by counting back from your average first fall frost date to ensure the pumpkins have enough time to ripen on the vine.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

When to Plant:
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is thoroughly warm. This is typically late May or early June in northern climates and April or May in warmer regions.

Where to Plant:
Pumpkins need two things above all else: full sun (at least 6-8 hours a day) and lots of space. The vines are vigorous and can easily spread 15-20 feet. Plant them in rich, fertile, well-draining soil. Work a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting.

How to Plant:
Pumpkins are traditionally planted in "hills" or mounds to warm the soil and provide good drainage.

Create Hills: Build up mounds of soil about 12 inches high and 2-3 feet wide. Space these hills at least 8-10 feet apart.

Sow Seeds: Plant 4-5 seeds about 1 inch deep in a circle on top of each hill.

Water: Water the hills thoroughly after planting. Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.

Thinning: Once seedlings are 2-3 inches tall and have their first true leaves, thin to the strongest 2-3 plants per hill by snipping the weaker ones at the soil line.

Care Instructions:

Watering: Pumpkins are thirsty plants. Provide about 1-2 inches of water per week, especially during hot, dry spells and when the pumpkins are setting fruit. Water deeply at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

Fertilizing: As heavy feeders, pumpkins benefit from regular feeding. Side-dress the plants with a balanced fertilizer or more compost once the vines begin to run, and again after the small pumpkins begin to form.

Vine Management: The vines will ramble. You can gently direct them to grow where you have space. Placing a piece of wood or straw under each developing pumpkin can help protect it from rot and soil pests.

Harvesting:
Harvest pumpkins when they have reached a deep, uniform orange color and the rind is hard enough that you can't pierce it with your thumbnail. The stem should be dry and hard. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the pumpkin from the vine, making sure to leave a 3-4 inch stem to act as a handle. A pumpkin without a stem will not store well. After harvesting, cure the pumpkins by letting them sit in a sunny, dry spot for 1-2 weeks to harden the skin. This will significantly increase their storage life.