Garden Thyme: Pumpkin Patch

This is the second year I am doing pumpkins. Last year, I had the pumpkins growing in my garden but they didn’t have enough room to expand so they never produced and I think I planted them too early. This year, I have a separate area (aka the Pumpkin Patch) to grow them!

Starting with the pumpkin seed and planting them into the ground is the best way to start. You can however, start in pots if your summer season is short. They are easy to maintain if they have plenty of room, sunlight and partial shade.

Pumpkins thrive best when you plant them as soon as frost is over, between May and June. They have a long growing season so the hotter the better (75-120 days). During this growing time, the plants are very thirsty and need a lot of water. When you see flowers, the fruit isn’t far behind. It is normal for flowering to fall off and regrow again ( remember, the growing season is long and that’s why we enjoy this fruit in the fall!)

So be patient and start planning what you’re going to use your pumpkins for! You can use the fruit for carving, decorations or to enjoy as food, desserts (see Lilies and Loafers recipes for Pumpkin).