When it comes to growing pumpkins there are all sorts of pumpkins available. You can grow pumpkins that can easily reach over a hundred pounds; you can grow pumpkins that are great for cooking or you can grow pumpkins that are great for carving. When it comes to picking the pumpkins to grow for carving you are going to want to look for Jack O’Lanterns. These pumpkins come in a variety of sizes. Some of the choices you have are pumpkins that grow to about 5 pounds, which include Winter Luxury, Spooktacular, Sugar Treat, and others. You also have pumpkins that can grow to about 25 pounds, which include Autumn Gold, Jack-O-Lantern, Connecticut Field and numerous others. Regardless of what type of pumpkin you are growing, there are some tips that you should follow in order to grow some great carving pumpkins.
Here are some tips to help you grow great carving pumpkins.
Tip one:
The first thing that you need to do is to choose a pumpkin that is designed for carving. You also need to decide if you want to grow one size or a variety of sizes. After making your decision you need to go to the nursery and buy the correct pumpkin seeds.
Tip two:
When preparing an area for growing pumpkins you are going to need to find an area that has full sun because pumpkins thrive in warm temperatures. You also need to look for an area that has rich and fertile soil that drains well.
Tip three:
Before you plant the pumpkins you should check the hardiness zone map for your particular area to see what the recommended dates are for planting pumpkins. If you live in an area that has a long growing season you can plant the pumpkins outside as soon as the threat of frost has passed. If you live in an area that has a short growing season you can either buy pumpkins that are faster growing or you can start the plants indoors about a month before the recommended planting date. To find out more about your local growing season to determine what kind of pumpkins are better for you to plant, consult with your local nursery or the local university’county extension office.
Tip four:
When you are planting the pumpkin seeds you should plant them in groups of three seeds, and they should be planted about two inches below the soil and at least five feet apart. This will allow your bigger carving pumpkins plenty of room to grow.
Tip five:
Also, after you have planted the pumpkin seeds to be sure that they get the best growth possible, they should be watered on a daily basis, and they should be fertilized regularly with a quality vegetable fertilizer, following the directions of the individual product. For more help on buying quality fertilizer you should check with your local nursery.
Tip six:
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when it comes to growing great carving pumpkins is that they should not be harvested until they are fully matured. But you also want to pick them before the first frost to insure that they survive. When harvesting pumpkins they should be cut with about four inches of stem remaining.
Tip seven:
If you plan on planting pumpkins for a long period of time it is a good thing to keep in mind that it is recommended that you change the planting location every two years. The reason for this is to prevent diseases that are common to pumpkins and other types of squash.
