Growing pumpkins in containers is the thoroughgoing means to fit these big works into an urban garden or diminished space .
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With their monumental fruit and sprawling vine , pumpkinscan take up a plenty of elbow room in garden . However , growing Cucurbita pepo in container is a way to come down their footprint so you’re able to fit them into a smaller garden . Keeping potted pumpkins takes a little more work , but with the right supplies and some know - how , you’re able to grow both sculpture and pie pumpkin in a small - space patio , balcony , or rooftop garden . expend these 12 top to get started .
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1. Choose Small Pumpkin Varieties
Some pumpkin varieties are better suitedfor container spring up than others . When turn pumpkins in a small blank space , see for miniature and sugar pie pumpkins , as well as pumpkins that keep a bush - like growth wont . Some of the best pumpkins for container gardens are ‘ Jack Be small ’ , ‘ Spooktacular ’ , ‘ Small Sugar ’ , and ‘ Baby Boo ’ .
2. Use a Big Pot
Even modest pumpkins need mess of elbow room to grow , so choose a spacious plantation owner . A individual miniature Cucurbita pepo plant might uprise in a 10 - congius container , but pumpkins grow much better in 20- to 25 - gallon pots . Make certain the container you choose hasplenty of drain holesin the base to prevent pee - logged base .
3. Add a Rich Potting Mix
Garden soilis not recommended for container gardens because it can become dense and vitiate water stream in pots . rather , fill pumpkin pots with a mixture of 1 part potting admixture ( or raised bed potting soil ) and 1 part compost , plus a dosage of slow - release fertilizer . Pumpkins are impenetrable eater , and mixing compost and slow - release fertilizer into their soil provides slew of nutrient to roots as they develop .
4. Plant at the Right Time
Unless you ’re arise pumpkins in a nursery , do n’t seed pumpkin seed until after yourlast frost date of spring . To imbed , inseminate two to four pumpkin seeds per pot and bury the seed about 1 column inch inscrutable . When the seedlings are a few inches tall and have sprouted true leaves , melt off out the weakest plants and grant the strongest one or two seedlings to grow .
5. Apply Mulch
pumpkin crave moisture , but plants grown in containers dry out out quicker than plants in garden bed . Add athin layer of natural mulch , like stalk , over the soil after the pumpkin seed sprout to keep your pumpkins growing strong . The mulch insulates the territory and preclude pots from dry out out apace .
6. Provide Plenty of Light
Pumpkins are full - Lord’s Day plants that need at least six to eight hour of bright visible radiation day by day . To ensure your pumpkin receive the light they need , turn up your container garden in a slur thatreceives lots of sun throughout the day .
7. Try Trellising
trellis are n’t required for growing autumn pumpkin , but they can keep pumpkin vine from acquire unwarranted and overwhelming a small - space garden . Plus , trellising might take into account you to maturate more pumpkinsin mean quarters .
Cattle panel trellisesare W. C. Handy in large garden , but cattle panels can also be shaped into smaller cylinder or “ grow pillar ” for container pumpkins . caravan pumpkins to maturate vertically on a treillage by broadly tie pumpkin vine to supports with coated telegram , cotton garden twine , or plant cartridge holder . Once the plants commence to fruit , lend a pumpkin hammock made of nett or honest-to-god pantyhose to keep vine from break under the weight unit of heavy pumpkin .
8. Water Often
Mulching can help oneself keep soil from dry out out quickly , but potted pumpkins still need to be water more frequently than plant continue in garden beds . Pumpkins grow unspoiled in consistently dampish soil and should be watered when the top 1 inch of dirt feels dry to the tinge .
9. Fertilize Regularly
mingle wearisome - release fertilizer into your potting commixture at planting time furnish some nutrient for the developing autumn pumpkin works . However , the plants must still be fertilized throughout the grow season to stay productive . forefend using N - fertile fertilizers on pumpkin , which can make plants to grow lots of leaves at the expense of their fruit . Instead , apply a universal , all - purpose fertilizer every few week until pumpkins begin to blossom , and then switch to a fertilizer with plenty ofphosphorous and potassium .
10. Remove Extra Flowers
Potted pumpkin will fruit , but they ca n’t support as many Cucurbita pepo as plants produce in garden bed . To help your pumpkin vine in container raise as braggy as possible , take two of every three efflorescence that appear on the vine . This encourages the plants to channel all their energy toward the remain bloom to get in high spirits - timber fruits .
Pruning off extra blossom is recommended for most pumpkin varieties . However , miniature autumn pumpkin typically do n’t need to be pruned , even in container gardens .
11. Watch for Pests
pestis are ordinarily less problematic in container than in garden beds , but they can still cut back up from time to time . If your pumpkins get patchy or porous leaf or if the vines and leaves wilt even when they ’re well - water , you could be get by with insects such assquash vine borersorcucumber beetles . Also , powdery mold can occuron potted pumpkins , but these problems are less potential to come up if you water pumpkins at soil level and keep works leaf dry .
12. Know When to Harvest
When autumn arrives and the temperature drop , it ’s time toharvest your pumpkins . You ’ll know they are ready to pick when the vines start to die back and the pumpkin vine develop their mature coloration , which can vary depending on the variety .
If a hard Robert Lee Frost is forecast , pick pumpkins a niggling early and permit them mature indoors .
Ripe Cucurbita pepo may separate from the vine course , but they can also be snip off the works with a pair of pruners . To keep pumpkins fresh for long , pass on a circumstances of the base impound to each pumpkin and allow them to heal in a warm , teetotal place for 10 day before storing or carving them .
