🥕 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 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

🧪 Soil pH

6.0–7.0

💧 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

📅 Days to Maturity

85-125 days (from seed); small varieties 85-100 days, large 100-125 days

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ ["Flesh (roasted🍽️ pureed🍽️ pie)"🍽️ "Seeds (pepitas \u2014 roasted🍽️ especially hull-less varieties)"🍽️ "Flowers (stuffed/fried)"🍽️ "Young leaves (cooked)"]

🤝 Companions (6)

🤝 Corn

Three Sisters guild — corn provides partial shade/support; pumpkins suppress weeds with dense foliage

🤝 Bean (pole)

Three Sisters — beans fix nitrogen; pumpkins' prickly vines deter animal pests

🤝 Marigold (French)

Nematode suppression; general pest repellent

🤝 Nasturtium

Trap crop for aphids; repels squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and whiteflies

🤝 Radish

Repels squash vine borer; let some go to seed for best effect

🤝 Oregano

Low-growing aromatic ground cover repels pests

⚠️ Keep Apart (3)

⚠️ Potato

Competing heavy feeders; disease overlap

⚠️ Fennel

Allelopathic

⚠️ Other Cucurbita (pumpkin, zucchini, squash, gourds) — too close

Cross-pollination affects seed purity; increased pest concentration

💊 Medicinal Uses

["Pumpkin seeds: clinically studied for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) \u2014 contains phytosterols and zinc", "Seeds are natural dewormer (cucurbitacin paralyzes intestinal worms \u2014 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"]

📝 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.