With sweater weather on the horizon or perhaps already upon us, who isn’t thinking about their next pumpkin pie or Jack O’Lantern? Pumpkin plants are perhaps one of the most popular members of the Cucurbitaceae family because of their variability.
Not only are they the heart and soul of America’s spookiest holiday, but they also play a huge role in fall-themed recipes. But the abundance of pumpkin patches in just about every US state makes it easy to forget that pumpkin plants aren’t hard to grow at home, too.
Planting Pumpkin Plants
You’ve decided to grow your own pumpkin plants. That’s great! Before you start, though, it’s important to learn how to do it right.
This step-by-step pumpkin planting outline walks you through the important stages of starting your at-home pumpkin patch outside. That includes how to choose the right pumpkin seeds for you. Not all pumpkins are alike!
Types of Pumpkins You Can Grow In Your Backyard
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of narrowing down your pumpkin plant seeds options, you’re not alone. This list of pumpkins to grow at home is a great place to start if you’re lost!
The next step is deciding when, exactly, to plant them. This detailed guide presents five important things that you should be thinking about when making this decision. That includes your geographic location, pumpkin plant variety, pumpkin need, and more.
Growing Pumpkin Plants: Watering, Fertilizing, and Pest/Disease Care
You’re that much closer to the perfect Jack O’ Lantern, but the hard work isn’t done quite yet…
How To Grow Pumpkins
Caring for Pumpkins
In addition to reviewing some topics you should be thinking about before planting your pumpkin seeds (think pumpkin variety, purchasing pumpkin seeds, etc.), this post goes into detail about pumpkin plant care, post-planting. That includes watering, fertilizing, and more!
If you already know your weakness is getting the water quantity right, then skip the general guides and head straight for this post to learn how to do it right.
While you’re at it, why not grow an entire pumpkin patch? This guide takes into account the growth of more than just one pumpkin plant, and thus also has useful information regarding troubleshooting pest and disease problems.
If growing pumpkins has awakened your competitive side, you won’t be disappointed here! This guide is perfect for those of you who are looking forward to competing in pumpkin growing competitions. It provides more detailed directions for selecting your pumpkin seeds, as well as creating the best soil environment to maximize growth.
Even if you’re not interested in growing giant pumpkins, but want more insight on soil amendments optimized for pumpkin growing, this post is for you, or check out:
The Best Fertilizer for Pumpkins
And last but not least in pumpkin care is tending to pests and diseases. Though we all hope that our pumpkin plants won’t get affected, it does happen, and you need to be ready.
Pumpkin Pests
Pumpkin Diseases
Harvesting Pumpkins
Though some might disagree, one of the best things about growing pumpkin plants is harvesting the pumpkins. Not only are they beautiful fruits, but it means that Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the horizon!
When spooky season is right around the corner, you’ll probably want to harvest your pumpkins as soon as you can. But don’t let your excitement carry you away! This post helps you consider all the elements that should be thought about before you go ahead and pluck it from the vine.
That includes not just the tell-tale signs of a ripe pumpkin, but also how to harvest pumpkins, and what to do in the face of an early frost.
Chances are that you know how long a carved pumpkin will last on your doorstep, but not so much a whole one. That’s what we’re here for! Take a look at this post to learn about the longevity of a pumpkin, and even what pumpkin curing is (hint: it helps the pumpkin last longer!).
Buy Pumpkin Seeds!
Pumpkin Painting
As mentioned previously, pumpkin plants are one of the most popular members of the squash and gourd family because of all the many things you can do with them. One of my favorite activities, actually, is painting pumpkins!
At this point, everyone knows how to carve pumpkins. If you want a unique spin on your Halloween decorations this year (or maybe just an activity that’s a tad bit less sticky) how about pumpkin painting?
This post will give you a starting point for everything you should know about pumpkin painting: what are the best pumpkin varieties to paint, what type of paint to buy, and even some inspiration for your masterpieces.
Pumpkin Nutrition
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
One of my favorite things about pumpkin plants is their tasty and crunchy seeds. What’s more, they’re even healthy for you! This post highlights all the different ways in which pumpkin seeds are good for your health.
Pumpkin Plant Varieties
Want a more in-depth dive into some of the many pumpkin plant varieties out there? Then these posts listed below are for you! You’ll find everything from small decorative pumpkins to the giant pumpkins that will win you the competitions mentioned above.
Blaze Pumpkin
Pumpkin Patches
If growing pumpkin plants yourself is just not your vibe, there are still countless ways of enjoying this famous autumn star. The posts listed below highlight our favorite pumpkin patches in almost all the US states. We promise any of them are great for a fall-fun family day trip!
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Now that you have a good understanding of the pumpkin patches around the country, take a look at our Pumpkin Patch Outfit Ideas.
Pumpkin Recipes
One of the best things about pumpkins is that they also perform wonderfully in the kitchen! While we all know about pumpkin pie and pumpkin lattes, how about some of these more unique twists on recipes that call for our favorite fall fruit:
Baked Goods:
Easy and Tasty Pumpkin Muffins
Momma’s Perfectly Moist Pumpkin Bread
Best White Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
“Teddy Loves Them” Pumpkin Bars
The Best Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes Ever!
Delicious Homemade Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake
A Most Pleasant, Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Savory Menus:
Mexican-Style Pollo Con Crema (With Pumpkin)
Comforting Kadu: A Mediterranean Pumpkin Stew in 10 Easy Steps
Resourceful and Scrumptious Pumpkin Hummus
How to Make Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Miscellaneous Recipes:
Fluffy Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes
Made-to-Beg-for Homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
Easy Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin FAQ
When are pumpkins in season?
Though pumpkins are generally in season during the fall, different pumpkin plant varieties reach maturity at different times. Pumpkins need between three to over four months of time after germination before harvesting. So if you own your own pumpkin patch, you’re better off keeping track of your own schedule instead of relying on a general.
But if you’re just in the market for the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween, then refer to your local pumpkin patches for their opening dates!
Can I grow my own pumpkins?
You certainly can! Just remember that pumpkin plants require lots of growing space (about ten square meters per plant) and plenty of sunlight. Despite their sweater-weather reputation, they love the warmth! Learn how to grow pumpkins with our step-by-step guide.
Can humans eat pumpkins?
Yes! In fact, pumpkins are the main players in a whole host of delicious fall-themed goodies. Take a look at the section just above for my personal favorite pumpkin recipes.
Can my pets eat pumpkins?
Dogs and cats can eat pumpkins! However, raw pumpkin is actually pretty difficult for both cats and dogs to digest, and you should not feed them parts of the leaves, stems, or discarded pieces of Jack O’ Lanterns.
You should opt for plain canned pumpkin, which is healthy for their digestive tracks and contains plenty of great nutrients. As always, though, consult your vet when deciding your pet’s diet.
For more information, check out these posts related to pets eating pumpkins:
Can Cats Eat Pumpkins?
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkins?
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Where can I find pumpkin patches?
I have lists of the best pumpkin patches in almost every state in the US! Check out my list above in the section titled “pumpkin patches.”
Become a Pumpkin Plant Specialist!
We’re adding new pumpkin plant content all the time, so make sure to bookmark this page to have easy access to everything you’ll want to know about our favorite fall player!
Next, learn about more nature goodies:
