🎃 Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo (most), C. maxima, C. moschata
vegetables
fruit (culinary vegetable, winter squash type)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6, 8+ hours); maximum sun for largest fruit
💧 Water
High; 1, 2 inches per week; consistent deep watering; reduce slightly near harvest for better storage
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
🧪 Soil pH
6.0, 7.0
🪴 Soil Type
Very rich, well-composted, well-drained loam; pumpkins thrive on old compost or manure piles , some of the largest pumpkins are grown on pure compost
🚿 Drainage
Good drainage essential; raised mounds/hills 12, 24 inches tall
📏 Spacing
Bush varieties: 24, 36 inches; vining varieties: 48, 72 inches in rows 72, 120 inches; giant pumpkin varieties: 100+ sq ft per plant
⏱️ Maturity
85-125 days (from seed); small varieties 85-100 days, large 100-125 days
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Flesh (roasted, pureed, pie)
🍽️ Seeds (pepitas , roasted, especially hull-less varieties)
🍽️ Flowers (stuffed/fried)
🍽️ Young leaves (cooked)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (7)
Three Sisters , beans fix nitrogen; pumpkins' prickly vines deter animal pests
Three Sisters guild , corn provides partial shade/support; pumpkins suppress weeds with dense foliage
Nematode suppression; general pest repellent
Trap crop for aphids; repels squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and whiteflies IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Low-growing aromatic ground cover repels pests
Repels squash vine borer; let some go to seed for best effect
Sunflowers provide wind protection for pumpkin vines; attract pollinators for pumpkin flowers.
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Pumpkin seeds: clinically studied for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) , contains phytosterols and zinc
- Seeds are natural dewormer (cucurbitacin paralyzes intestinal worms , traditional remedy)
- Flesh: very high in beta-carotene/vitamin A; good source of potassium and vitamin C
- Seed oil: used for skin health, rich in essential fatty acids
📝 Growing Notes
Pumpkins are technically winter squash (hard-skinned, harvested mature). Days to maturity: 85, 120 depending on variety. For Halloween pumpkins, plant by late May/early June. Cure in sun for 10 days after harvest for longest storage (3, 6 months). 'Giant' varieties (C. maxima 'Atlantic Giant') require intensive feeding and watering , limit to one fruit per vine. Powdery mildew is the most common disease.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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