How to Grow a Small Sugar Pumpkin in a Container

Grow a sugar pumpkin in a container.

If you want to grow a pumpkin to use in cooking and baking, no variety is better than the sugar pumpkin. The sugar pumpkin, also known as the sugar pie pumpkin, is sweet and has a smooth texture. Growing and harvesting them can be a rewarding experience. However, if you live in an area with limited outdoor space, growing any kind of pumpkin may seem like an impossibility. Since the sugar pumpkin is small, though, it is one of the few varieties that can be grown in a container.

Things You'll Need

• Container, at least 12 inches high and 4 feet wide
• Drill
• 1/2-inch drill bit
• Small stones
• Potting soil
• Fertilizer
• Pumpkin seeds
• Watering can
• Trellis

Instructions

1. Drill several holes in the bottom and sides of the container. This will allow proper drainage for your pumpkin plants.

2. Line the bottom of the container with small stones to prevent the soil from eroding.

3. Add potting soil to the container. Fill to within 1 inch of the top. Mix fertilizer into the soil in the method suggested on your fertilizer's packaging.

4. Place your pumpkin seeds in a bowl and soak them overnight in water. Drain.

5. Create a large mound with your potting soil mixture in the center of the container. The mound should be about 3 feet in diameter. Dig a trench around the bottom of the mound to assist with water collection.

6. Plant five seeds 6 inches apart in the center of the mound. Cover securely with soil and water gently with a watering can.

7. When the seeds have grown into seedlings, thin the seedling from six to only two to help ensure a healthy crop. Pick the healthiest two seedlings to keep.

8. Once the plants have grown to about 2-inch vines, place a trellis near the container to encourage the vines to grow up it. Wrap the vines around the trellis daily for about a week and then they should wrap around it on their own.

9. Water your plants daily, enough to keep them moist but not flooded. Fertilize weekly. When your pumpkins begin to emerge, wait until they are a dark orange color before harvesting. Harvest by cutting through the stem, several inches above the fruit itself, with a sharp knife.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait until the temperatures are in the mid-70s Fahrenheit before planting sugar pumpkins. If not using the harvested pumpkin right away, wash with soap and water, then rinse with a diluted bleach solution to prevent mildew. A plastic children's swimming pool will work in place of the 12-inch by 4-foot container.

• When the pumpkins are growing, handle them as little as possible to prevent damage to the plant. To avoid powdery mildew from forming on your plants, water the soil and not the leaves.

References

• The Vegetable Gardener: "How to Grow Pumpkins"
• Container Growing Tips: "Growing Pumpkins in Pots"
• Pumpkin Nook: "Pumpkins Are Edible"