How to Feed Pumpkins
Whether for cooking or decoration, growing a healthy pumpkin requires proper soil nutrition. The pumpkin plant and vines depend on fertilization for the nutrients necessary to grow and support the large fruits. The nitrogen in the fertilizer encourages healthy leaf and vine development, while the phosphorus encourages good blooming and pumpkin formation. Determining the fertilizer amount necessary and applying it properly ensures your pumpkins grow to their optimum size and quality. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Test the soil pH and nutrient level before planting, using a test kit from an extension office or garden center. A soil test gives exact fertilizer recommendation for your soil type.
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Spread the fertilizer over the garden bed, using the amount and type indicated by the test. If no test is performed, apply 30 lbs. of 5-10-10 or a similar low-nitrogen blend to every 1,000 square feet of bed. Plant the pumpkin seeds after fertilizing.
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Apply nitrogen to the bed once the pumpkin plants begin to flower. Use 2 lbs. of calcium nitrate per 100 foot row, or use the amount indicated by the soil test.
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Spread the calcium nitrate along the side of the row, about 6- to 8-inches away from the base of the plants. Water the pumpkin bed thoroughly after application so the fertilizer leeches into the soil and root zone.
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Tips & Warnings
Use ½ cup of nitrogen per plant every three weeks if you are trying to grow giant pumpkins. Nitrogen encourages vine and leaf development, which is vital for supporting these larger fruits. Too much nitrogen inhibits the growth of fruits on smaller pumpkin varieties.
Pumpkins require a soil pH, or acidity level, near 6.5. A soil test indicates the garden bed's pH. Some soils may require lime or sulfur to alter the acidity of the soil.
References
Resources
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