Plant young squash plants into prepared ground (see above), taking care not to disturb the roots. Either place them in a cold frame or under a cloche for a week, or stand them outdoors during the day and bring them in at night for a week, then for a further week keep them in a sheltered spot all day and night.
But first, harden off plants to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. You can plant indoor-raised or bought plants outside after the last frost. You can also plant compact varieties in growing bags or large containers filled with multi-purpose or soil-based compost. Space the individual sowing/planting sites at least 90cm (3ft) apart for bush plants and 1.5m (5ft) for trailing plants. Add a general purpose fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4, scattering two handfuls per square metre/yard. Make a hole about 30cm (1ft) wide and deep, then fill with a mix of soil and home-made compost or well-rotted manure. It’s worth taking the time to prepare the ground well, ahead of planting or sowing outdoors, to ensure your pumpkins thrive. These vigorous plants need plenty of space too – even the more compact bush varieties can easily reach 90cm (3ft) across. They generally grow less well in cooler sites. Pumpkins need a warm, sunny growing site, with shelter from cold winds and soil that is fertile and moisture retentive but not waterlogged. However, you do need somewhere warm and bright to keep the plants for about six weeks, until they can be moved outside. This is especially useful in colder areas. Indoor sowing offers more reliable results and gives plants a head start and a longer growing season. Pumpkins are best grown from seed indoors in mid-spring, but can also be sown a month or so later outdoors. You can also roast the seeds of some varieties, to eat as a healthy snack. Most varieties form large sprawling plants that require plenty of space, although more compact bush varieties, usually with small fruits, are also available.Īs well as being carved into Halloween lanterns, pumpkins can be used in a wide range of both savoury and sweet dishes, or can simply be roasted. They need a long, hot growing season, as the fruits are usually grown to maturity and must ripen fully in order to store well for use in winter. Pumpkins like a warm, sunny site, with fertile soil and lots of rain or regular watering. They are usually grown from seed sown indoors in spring, then planted out after the last frost, but can also be sown outdoors once the soil warms up. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash, traditionally with large, rounded, orange fruits. By autumn, you’ll have colourful pumpkins to make into Halloween decorations or to store for use in winter – they’re delicious roasted or turned into hearty soups. Pumpkins are easy and fun to grow – just give them a warm sunny site, plenty of water and shelter from cold winds. Malvern Autumn Show - 22–24 September 2023.RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show - 5–10 September 2023.
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