Planting Tips:It’s easy to grow nice pumpkins no matter where you live. In colder or more challenging climates, start pumpkin seeds indoors in large pots, as the plants dislike being transplanted. Using a larger pot helps prevent stress, which can slow vine growth. In most areas, you can simply plant pumpkin seeds directly in the garden. Form hills about two feet across and a few inches high, adding plenty of well-rotted manure beneath each hill—pumpkins are heavy feeders.

Plant five seeds about an inch deep in each hill, placing four around the edge and one in the center, after the soil has warmed in spring. Space pumpkin hills or rows about 10 feet apart to make weeding easier before the vines begin to run. For the largest pumpkins, thin to the strongest single plant in each hill, then keep well watered and weeded.

When female flowers appear (you’ll recognize them by the small “ball” beneath the blossom), limit each vine to about four fruits. Once young pumpkins begin to form, thin again to keep only the best one. Continue watering and fertilizing regularly—then stand back and watch them grow!

Seed Saving Tips: To save seed, harvest mature pumpkins and let them cure for about a month. Then cut them open and remove the seeds. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping. Once completely dry, store the seeds in an airtight container.

Note: If you plan to save pumpkin seeds, remember that different species within the Cucurbita genus can cross. For example, a C. pepo pumpkin will cross with a C. pepo squash (such as zucchini or summer squash), and a C. maxima pumpkin can cross with nearby Hubbards. However, you can grow one variety from each species—C. pepo, C. maxima, C. mixta, and C. moschata—without risk of crossing between them. To ensure pure seed, pumpkins and squash of the same species should ideally be planted at least a mile apart, unless separated by woods, hills, or other strong barriers.