How to Choose Pumpkins to Grow in a Small Space
Growing fruits and vegetables isn't easy, and it is particularly difficult when space is limited. Pumpkins are squash that ripen on a vine and traditionally need a large field in which to grow. If you want to grow the festive fall fruit, but only have a small space, there are some tips and tricks you can use to make the most out of the space you have. There is no reason you can't have a pumpkin crop, regardless of the space limitations. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Examine the area available for growing plants. Write down the exact square footage on a piece of paper. Determine if you plan to grow any other crops besides pumpkins.
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Create a map of the plot. Choose areas for the other fruits and vegetables and cross off the spaces on the map. The remaining area is reserved for pumpkins. Calculate how much of the total square footage is for pumpkins. Write that number down on the paper under the total square footage.
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Choose a pumpkin variety that best suits your space needs. Traditional pumpkins, like the ones carved for Halloween, need about 50 to 100 square feet to grow. Smaller varieties such as Jack B. Little pumpkins fit in the palm of your hand and can be grown in almost any size garden. There are also varieties sized between the Jack B. Little and the traditional carving pumpkin. A smaller pumpkin needs less space to grow successfully.
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Screw the wooden trellis to a wall or structure near the end of the pumpkin patch. Place the vine into the trellis if it grows beyond the confines of the field. This only works for smaller pumpkins of about 1 to 3 lbs. Larger pumpkins will break off the vine due to gravity. For larger pumpkins, cut the vine as it grows beyond the boundaries of the plot. This keeps the pumpkins from becoming overcrowded.
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References
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