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Pumpkins are abundant in the fall, and you may wish that you had put them on your spring seed list so that you could enjoy them now.
If you have a little garden, you may believe that you will always have to buy pumpkins instead of cultivating them yourself. Pumpkin vines are renowned for taking over a garden. Because each fruit requires runners at least 10 feet long for sustenance, one plant may spread across 50 to 100 square feet.
However, pumpkins may be grown on a tiny plot of land. Consider growing your pumpkins on a trellis, with the fruit supported by netting or old pantyhose. This works well with smaller fruit kinds like ‘Small Sugar,’ ‘Baby Pam,’ and ‘Cotton Candy,’ but bigger varieties can also be planted vertically.
How to grow pumpkins vertically
Install a trellis on a prepared garden space to grow pumpkins vertically. To minimize shade, place your trellis on the north side of your garden.
Attach 4-inch mesh to strong stakes spaced along the planting area. Use garden twine to secure vine tendrils to the trellis. Dig some rich compost or well-broken down manure into the soil to prepare it.
Plant your pumpkin seeds approximately an inch (2.5 cm) deep at the base of your selected structure. Allow at least 12 inches (30 cm) between seeds.
In approximately a week, you should see the seeds begin to sprout. Pumpkin plants have long tendrils that wrap around trellises and other vertical structures to aid in climbing.
Wrapping the tendrils around the trellis will assist the plants expand as they grow. As the pumpkins appear, you may support their weight by attaching an old piece of clothing to the trellis and allowing the pumpkin to rest on it.
How to Build a Pumpkin Tower for Vertical Pumpkin Growth
- Make a hole.
- Create the pumpkin tower trellis.
- Place the pumpkin tower in the hole.
- Fill up the hole with dirt and surround the pumpkin tower with it.
- Sow pumpkin seeds.
- Train your pumpkin vines.
- Determine how long it will take your pumpkin variety to develop.
Do pumpkins grow well vertically?
Vertical gardening is the solution for small garden spaces. Growing pumpkins (and other crops) vertically enhances air circulation, which reduces illness and provides for easier access to fruit. Vertical gardening is effective on a variety of different crops, including watermelon!
Is a trellis required for pumpkin plants?
Because the plants will get heavy as the pumpkins mature, pumpkins require robust, solid vertical supports that can hold their weight. What exactly is this? Arches, arbors, and trellises are great for growing pumpkins vertically and will also look nice in the landscape.
What should you put under growing pumpkins?
To shield the growing fruit from the earth, lay a piece of cardboard or newspaper below your pumpkin. Over time, the dirt might cause the pumpkin to decay. When you observe a few features on your developed pumpkin, your pumpkin is ready to be chosen.
Conclusion
Pumpkin plants are not frost hardy, so wait until the last frost has past and the soil has warmed up before planting.
Further Reading
- Pump up your pumpkins to giant size
- Local knowledge of pumpkin production, performance and utilization systems for value addition avenues from selected agro-ecological zones of Uganda
- Pumpkins in the Garden