Growing Pumpkins in Raised Beds

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Growing Pumpkins in Raised Beds

While we normally think of planting small garden favorites in a raised bed, there’s no reason not to use them for one of the biggest vegetables as well: pumpkins!

Growing pumpkins in raised beds isn’t hard, even if you don’t have much space. In fact, depending on the variety you choose, it can be even easier to care for them in a raised bed than it is in a pot or traditional garden plot. Let’s dig in!

Benefits of Growing Pumpkins in Raised Beds

Easier to Care For – While pumpkins generally require little care to begin with, growing them in a raised bed makes them easier to weed, water, and harvest. Raised beds also offer good air circulation and help prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

Longer Growing Season – Pumpkins can require anywhere between 75 and 120 frost-free days for growing, and most require at least 65° soil for germination. A raised bed warms up faster in the spring than the rest of the ground, so you’ll be able to plant sooner. Just make sure you’re still past the last frost date for your plants, or be prepared to use row covers and other methods for frost protection.

Better Drainage – Raised beds offer better water drainage, which pumpkins rely on so they aren’t sitting in water all the time. They love plenty of water, but they need it in their roots, not on their leaves, to prevent issues like bacterial wilt and black spots.

Types of Pumpkins

When choosing a variety, keep in mind that you can grow carving, decorative, or cooking pumpkins. They also come in many sizes—from pumpkins that fit in your hand to giant pumpkins weighing hundreds of pounds!

Best Pumpkins for Raised Beds

Miniature Pumpkins – Ideal for small spaces, miniature pumpkins like Jack Be Little are perfect for raised beds.

Pie Pumpkins – Varieties like Sugar Pie are excellent for cooking and fit well in raised beds.

Carving Pumpkins – Varieties like Jack O Lantern are great for Halloween and can be grown in raised beds if trained properly.

Decorative Pumpkins – Decorative miniature pumpkin mixes come in many colors and shapes, making them a great choice for raised beds.

For larger varieties like Big Max, ensure your raised bed can handle the size and weight of the pumpkin vines and fruit.

How to Grow Pumpkins in Raised Beds

From planting to harvesting, your raised bed pumpkins will need a few adjustments to grow well.

Planting

You can start your pumpkin seeds indoors a few weeks ahead of time for a head start or seed them directly into the soil in your raised bed once all danger of frost has passed. While it may surprise you considering their association with frosty fall days, pumpkin plants do NOT like cold, so waiting until warm weather with frost-free nights is a must!

Depending on the variety, your pumpkins will take about 3-4 months to go from seed to harvestable pumpkin. Planting them around late May is usually a good bet. If you’re looking for carving pumpkins rather than pie pumpkins, you can start as late as July for an October crop—just be sure to pick a fast-growing variety.

Before planting or transplanting pumpkin seedlings, pick a raised bed that gets plenty of full sun. Add compost or aged manure and work it into the soil to ensure fertile soil.

Pumpkins grow nicely in hills or rows, but since you’re using a bed, follow the spacing requirements suggested by your seed packet. In most cases, you’ll only want one hill or row per bed, as even small pumpkin varieties require a lot of space.

Consider adding a few great pumpkin companion plants to help maximize space.

Summer Care

If you have a small raised bed for your pumpkins, or if they’re growing out into your walking space, you may have to train them. If you’re growing a small variety, the easiest way to do this is by providing a firm trellis for them to grow upward on. For larger pumpkins, you can move their runners back into the bed whenever it starts to get underfoot.

Mulching around your pumpkin plants helps with weed control and retains soil moisture. Use plastic mulches or organic matter to keep the soil moist and cool.

Pumpkins love water, but avoid watering them with a sprinkler hose or any other “water-from-above” method that can wet their leaves. Wet leaves can make them susceptible to fungal diseases. Use a watering can or drip irrigation near the base of the plant. Give them about 1 inch of water per week, with more after blossoming while the fruits are actively growing.

Pumpkins have both male and female flowers. Female flowers have a little bulge underneath, which is the baby pumpkin. Usually, local bees and butterflies will handle pollination, but if necessary, use a soft brush to transfer pollen from male to female blossoms.

Harvesting

Pumpkins will turn completely orange (or their specified final color) when they’re ready to harvest. The stem should be hard and dry, and you should be able to dent the pumpkin’s skin with a fingernail without puncturing it.

To harvest, wait for a dry, sunny day. Using a sharp knife, cut the stem, leaving as much attached to the pumpkin as possible. A longer stem extends the pumpkin’s life. Cure the pumpkin in a dry place to extend its longevity.

Happy Growing!

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