When to plant pumpkins?

I've held off planting my pumpkin seeds because
a) I'm out of room :0) and
b) The packet indicates 90 days to maturity, and I'd like to time them to be ready for harvest around mid-October.

Should I wait until mid-July to plant them, or is that too late?

Hi Vols
Here in MD everyone ususally plants them sometime in July. I will get mine started right around the second week of July

I started my Atlantic Giants about three weeks ago(before the last frost). I sowed the seed and then covered them with clear plastic. Atlantic Giants take 120 days, so that is really pushing it for our season. I just planted the other varieties.

Frank you've brought up a very good point. I recently moved from the northern edge of Zone 7, and still think of my first frost date as 10/31 or later.....it's probably a good 2 weeks earlier than that now.

Will pumpkins take frost if they're almost ripe? Or do I need to have them off the vine before the danger of frost?

How long will pumpkins keep off the vine??? I have planted a few about a week ago...My kids will be upset if they grow well and then rot before Halloween
Julie

My pumpkins are usually ready a little before or around halloween. For those that are early I have had no trouble keeping them in a cool dark area: be it garage or basement.I guess I just store them as I would any gourd or melon. Even a shady spot outside works because in the past I have sold them, and all I've done is set them out on the trailer from the mower in a shady spot. works o.k. for me, but I'm surely no expert.
Sandy

Sandy's right...just keep them in the shade and out of the sun if they ripen a little early.They will take a light frost too.

vols....you should be about the middle of oct somewhere for your first frost.Mine usually comes between the 12th to 20th and I'm farther north than you.This is usually a light one and you can cover with a blanket and be just fine.The killing frost will come around the last week of oct to the first week of nov.

As for the pumpkins..I'd plant these about the first of july,but be prepared to water.The young plants will get stunted if starved for water.

Pumpkins are a hard shelled squash and our forefathers used them for food and fodder all winter.If kept in a cool dry place,they should keep most of the winter.When you pick them let them 'season' outside for a week or so in the shade.then use them for decoration,or put them by for wintertime punkin pie! I've had some varieties keep till april just in my utility room.

Now the decorations are subjected to the weather and temp changes,so they will need to be disposed of when you're done with them.They won't keep.

Since our season can be short, we just cover the pumkins when we expect a frost. Cover the leaves too, and you can get a couple extra weeks.I let the big ones sit my the house for quite a long time before they begin to rot. The frost is what will start softening them.

thanks everyone! glad to know _if_ they grow well, we can save them for Halloween. (never tried before)
Julie

Oh my...seems I'm right there with you guys in the pumpkin dilemma and kids...lol. We, too, are running out of space, since we've dedicated a large paddock to our new sheep. Halloween planning is a year-round "holiday" at my house and this is our second year growing our own pumpkins. We have chosen the white pumpkins this year, to the delight of my little ones!
Trish

Help Please .... Am new to this site and to planting pumkins. My garden was late this yr. and my pumkins are not quite mature, some or most are still lightly green streaked. Last night we had a lite frost and there was no way I could cover all these vines and pumkins and squash. Are they any good now ? Can I leave them on the vines or do I have to pick them off ? The leaves are turning black but some underneath are ok. I am in Zone 4 in the mid-west. This following week is supposed to be nice and no frost warnings.

Hi Skylarkwings' I'd keep an eye on them but not pick them yet' The longer they're on the vine the better but know winter is pretty close now' The frost shouldn't have hurt them. Good luck'

Thanks Sis, I took the squash in, but am keeping an eye on the pumkins. They should be ripe soon. I hope they beat the next frost or I will have to take them in too.

You're welcome''

just wondering, i am going to be starting pumpkins next year for the first time. my mother told me to plant them near the compost heap so they get the warmth from it to ripen. when should i start them here in the UK? i'm not particularly bothered about getting them ready for hallowe'en, as we have our 'snadgies' here (we use large hollowed out turnips here instead of pumkins! a lot cheaper to buy, you don't often see pumpkins here in the shops!!!). i was really wanting to grow them for food, i love roast pumpkin on a roast dinner. should i then start them earlier than July, so they would get the best of the summer weather here in the UK? any suggestions?

thanks in advance

lil

Lil

Sow indoors in April or out doors in late May early June. If sown indoors then plant out in early June after the last frosts. You should be able to harvest August to November.

We have masses of pumpkins around here, maybe it doesn't grow too well up there.

As for planting on the compost heap I always heard it was because they are greedy feeders.

This message was edited Thursday, Oct 4th 1:11 PM