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Dearborn, Missouri Platte County USA

I am trying to start my first pumpkin seeds! My daughters are 4 & 9 and they want a BIG PUMPKIN! I sent away for seeds and I received (2)588 Kuhn 1997,(2)357 Mongeon 2000, and (2)Kuhn 1998. I want to do this right and have several questions. Can all of these seeds be planted in the same area? Can the seeds be started outdoors, or is it necessary to begin them inside? We have had a cold, rainy spring temperature has varied from 43-91 degrees, and we have had 4" + of rain. So I have not started them yet, is it to late to start my pumpkin seeds now? We had a bunch of seeds that we saved from our previous pumpkin 2 years ago. I planted them last spring, and got vines, but I didn't get any pumpkins. That is why I want to do it right this year.
Thanks to anyone who can help, or has advice, I can use all the help I can get!

6/2/2001 10:33:57 AM

Greencastle, PA

my best plants were started outdoors, so, start them whereever you want.

6/2/2001 8:55:32 PM

western Kentucky

Basically the only thing that I know is that if you want a really big pumpkin then each plant will need a lot of room. It is best not to plant more than one in a hill if you are going for size. For a really big pumpkin the growing area needs to be about 900 sq feet... I use a spot 30'x30'.

See the HOW TO... Section on the main menu it will tell you pretty much what you need to know.

6/3/2001 1:27:28 AM

Herndon, VA

I think you need to start your seeds ASAP. It may be late for a weighoff, but you should be able to grow a big one by Halloween. Seeds can be started outdoors or inside, there are arguments for both. Planting them in the same area requires LOTS of space. You should have a minimum of 600 sq ft per plant. Most people plant 2-3 plants within a few feet of each other, and then remove the slower plants after a month or so to keep the strongest. If you had only vines, make sure you are fertilizing weekly. Also, hand pollinating the female flowers may increase you chances of successful pollination. Good Luck! Bruiser

6/3/2001 1:35:11 AM

Modesto, CA

You should send away for a book called 'How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins, 1 or 2' by Don Langevin. It has just about everything you need to know in successful growing. I've started some seeds indoors before under a growing light but the weather has been so nice that I started some outdoors as well. A pumpkin plant takes about 120 days to mature so count 120 days from now and see if that would put you just in time for a weigh off; otherwise you should have a nice one for Halloween at least. If you have more questions, I'd be glad to help. This is my email address: Collins4xin@yahoo.com............P'kingrower= Monica

6/4/2001 3:29:35 PM