Plant them between late May and early July, depending on your region, well after the final frost.
They are more compact and suitable for smaller spaces.
Here are tips about when and how to grow pumpkins for the Halloween harvest.
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Then, the pumpkins should be ready to be harvested in time for Halloween.
Local Climate
Thelast frost datein your location is key for determining the planting time.
Pumpkins are warm-season vegetables.
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If in doubt, it’s better to delay planting for a few days than lose your plants.
Extreme hot weather can be detrimental to pumpkins.
Days to Maturity
Pumpkins take between90 to 120 days to maturedepending on the variety.
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That totals 124 days (roughly four months) from starting the seeds to harvesting the pumpkin.
That way, the four-month growing period is in the safe frost-free time window.
In a northern climate with a short growing season, pick early-maturing varieties (around 90 days).
Where is the Best Place to Grow Pumpkins?
Plant your pumpkins in an area that receives full sun.
A slope with southern exposure is ideal because it gets ample sunlight late in the day.
If not, ensure you pick an area you might irrigate easily.
Finally, consider the richness of the soil for the roots.
Some pumpkin gardeners recommend tucking seeds into mounds created with layers of straw and mulch and enriched with compost.
This helps the soil warm up and drain faster.
Best Pumpkin Varieties to Grow for Halloween
There are lots of great choices for Halloweenpumpkin varieties.
Rather than going by calendar date, inspect the pumpkins to determine if they are ready to be harvested.
In colder regions, get your pumpkins in the ground by the end of May to harvest by Halloween.
In hotter climates, it’s possible for you to wait until early July to plant pumpkins.
If you live in a region that falls somewhere in between, aim for June planting.
Typically, pumpkins mature in 90 to 120 days.
University of Illinois Extension.
