subject: Organic Garden 101 - All About Pumpkins [print this page] "Today, we see pumpkins everywhere, from your neighbor's garden, in supermarkets and many others.
Pumpkins are valued so much that they are even used in special occasions like Halloweens. It is because of its fame and many uses that many people are starting to grow their very own pumpkin garden. If you are planning to start your own pumpkin garden then the guides below will surely be able to help you.
Best Place and Time to grow a Pumpkin
Choose the best spot for you to grow your pumpkin seeds, this will be your first consideration. A spot that has direct sunlight and wide space is ideal. Ensure that you grow your pumpkin during warm season and not during winter.
Correct Planting
One of the best ways to prepare your pumpkin seeds before planting is for you to soak them in water a night before you plant them. Soaking them in water will soften the outer shell of the seed making its sprouting easier and faster.
By the time you are to plant the seeds, be sure to cover them with an inch deep soil so as to block the sun's light and birds from eating them. Keep the soil loose and moist, not wet.
While your garden is still on its seed stage, use a sprinkling can or much better a spray to water the seed, so as not to wash away the soil. Don't move the soil as this may cut off the roots that have taken place on the soil. Keeping more than one garden plots at least 10 feet apart from each other is ideal.
It is also important for you to know that pumpkins are great crawlers. A single vine of pumpkin can grow to as much as 30 feet while shooting out other vines along its way. But don't worry, this can be easily solved. It is important to guide your pumpkin to crawl to your desired areas so that you can prevent damages to your other plants and properties. Some of the best spots for pumpkins to grow are walls, roofs, fences and corns. Make sure that the area is strong enough for the weight of the pumpkin.
Organic Fertilizers and Water
Compared to artificial fertilizers, organic fertilizers are better for pumpkins. Pumpkins are huge and long plants and therefore require lots of nutrients. They can grow faster and bigger if you put correct amount of organic fertilizer to them.
Pumpkins need water. In fact, it is composed of 80 - 90% water. The amount of water you use for them and the interval will depend on the kind of soil where you planted your pumpkin. A sandy soil requires frequent watering than a soil that is high in clay concentration.
