Because of their size, it takes pumpkins a long time grow. Full pumpkins have a gestation period of about 130 days and mini pumpkins take around 95 days. Early summer is a good time to plant seeds if you want large, Halloween gourds.Natalia Ganelin/Moment/Getty Images
Prep your soil.
Missed your window this year? No biggie. Use this fall to prep your soil so you’ll be ready to plant seeds in the spring. Compost, leaves, and even manure make rich soil pumpkin plants thrive in.Shutterstock
Leave plenty of space between plants.
If you’re planting a bunch of pumpkins, make sure to leave space for the vines to spread. Generally each plant should be around 2 to 5 feet apart, and rows should be about 6 feet apart.Shutterstock
Watch out for mildew.
You may notice white powdery mildew on your pumpkin leaves, stems, or flowers. If it’s just a small amount, remove the affected area. For mildew that’s all over, try spraying with a natural fungicide like jojoba oil.Shutterstock
Plant in full sun.
Pumpkin plants thrive in a spot that gets full sun. Whenever possible, put pumpkin seeds in the ground after the final frost (if you live in a place with a long winter, you can start the seeds inside).wellsie82/Moment/Getty Images
Plant the seeds in little hills.
You don’t need to plant pumpkin or gourd seeds on an actual hill, but if you have the time it can help to plant seeds in small raised mounds of dirt. This helps to keep seeds warm, drains water, and directs the vines downward.Shutterstock
Water regularly.
Pumpkins grow quickly, and they need a lot of water to sustain that growth (about an inch per week). If you live in a dry climate, water your plants deeply and regularly.rbkomar/Moment/Getty Images
Prune for bigger pumpkins.
If jack-o-lantern pumpkins are your goal, you’ll want to pinch off the vine and any smaller fruits so the plant can focus all of its energy on the largest pumpkins.Made By maryann/Moment Open/Getty Images
Select your seeds based on what you want to do with your pumpkins.
Research to find the best pumpkin varieties for pies, carving, or using as decor. Some seeds will produce colorful pumpkins and others are best for growing huge pumpkins.Barry Winiker/Photodisc/Getty Images
Grow vertically.
It is possible to grow pumpkins without a ton of space but you’ll need to trellis the vines. Make sure the trellis is strong enough to support the weight of several full-grown pumpkins.Shutterstock
