Pumpkin in the garden is more than just decoration

In short: Pumpkins are sown directly in the first decade of May, 3–5 cm deep, at roughly 140 x 50 cm spacing and later thinned to 140 x 100 cm. They need a sunny spot and moist, nutrient-rich soil, and they are harvested before the first autumn frosts. Stems reach up to 10 m.

Pumpkin in the Garden is Not Just a Decoration

Summer squash (lat. Cucurbita pepo), Winter squash (lat. Cucurbita maxima) is known under the common name pumpkin. Pumpkin/squash originates from Central and South America, from where it spread further to Asia and in the 16th century to Europe. Pumpkin is among the oldest cultivated plants ever.

Pumpkin belongs to the cucurbit family, its species range from classic edible orange pumpkins to decorative squashes. The fruit of this plant is a berry. It is therefore grown not only for consumption. Pumpkin is an annual plant, its stem grows up to 10m in length, it flowers with large yellow blossoms. The fruits have various shapes and colors depending on the species, from round orange ones to yellow bottle-shaped, striped, or ribbed varieties.

Types of pumpkin:

• bottle-shaped
• spaghetti squash - 20-30 cm long pumpkins
• oil pumpkin - widely grown primarily for seed harvest, which have no hard shell
• ornamental - fruits have the form of a thorny crown
• giant pumpkin - large-fruited pumpkins, orange, hokkaido
• common - includes zucchini, which can be green or yellow in color, and pattypan squash
• butternut - has tender fleshy pulp, smaller fruits are also suitable for direct consumption, in salads
• ornamental gourds - create long creeping vines with decorative fruits - gourds in the shape of lanterns or turbans, for example - also suitable for growing on balconies

Pumpkins require medium-heavy, nutrient-rich soil. Interesting is, for example, growing pumpkins directly on compost heaps, where we can cover the less attractive part of the garden with them. If we grow them in a bed - we work in farmyard manure or compost. Pumpkins like moist soil that doesn't dry out even on hot days. They prefer a sunny location.

We sow pumpkins in the first decade of May directly in their final location. We place the seeds in prepared holes about 3-5 cm deep, 1-2 pieces each. We plant them considering the size of the plants at a spacing of approximately 140 x 50 cm. Once the seedlings emerge and have 2-3 leaves, they need to be spaced out to approximately 140x100 cm. If you like to pre-grow seedlings - we can do so about 2-3 weeks in advance, but we don't let the seedling stretch too much or become thin, and we take care not to damage it when transplanting. Pumpkin doesn't need to be pre-grown.

We can fertilize pumpkins with commercial fertilizers - but let's follow the instructions to avoid exceeding the nitrate level in the soil. We carry out watering at the roots, regularly, preferably in the evening. The soil around the pumpkins should not dry out during the growth period.

Pumpkins should be harvested before the first autumn frosts, which could damage them. The advantage of pumpkins is their long storage life. We can therefore cover them with black non-woven fabric and let them grow to enormous sizes in the bed. After harvesting, leave ornamental pumpkins to dry in the sun.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Pumpkin consists of 90% water. For consumption, we process the flesh, which we scoop out, or we can peel the skin (it's better to first cut it into crescents, then the skin will be easier to remove). Pumpkin is a typical representative of autumn cuisine. Pumpkin soup is very tasty, prepared similarly to other cream soups, such as pea or broccoli soup, by adding chopped pieces to fried onions, cooking until soft, seasoning with stock, salt, pepper, blending, and if you haven't yet acquired a taste for pumpkin soup, try adding grated or melted cheese, or parmesan.

Pumpkin compote is also excellent. We recommend soaking cut pumpkin pieces in water with a little citric acid added, preferably overnight. The next day, add sugar and cloves and cook until soft. You can consume immediately or preserve in jars.

Pumpkin contains copper, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and other minerals and unsaturated fatty acids, pantothenic acid, trace elements, B vitamins, provitamin A - carotenes and vitamin C. Fiber is also important for the human body, as it supports digestion, cleanses the intestines of deposits, acts as a diuretic and helps with kidney and prostate diseases, reduces blood fat, strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on the pancreas, supports heart function and regenerates body cells.

Pumpkin seeds are a sought-after dietary supplement, as they contain unsaturated fatty acids and nucleic acids. They have high nutritional value and contain plenty of zinc. For home production, we recommend oil pumpkin seeds. These seeds can be consumed on their own, or added to homemade baked goods, for example.

Pumpkin is also a symbol of Halloween, an American holiday that falls on our All Souls' Day. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, carved pumpkins with lit candles are a beautiful autumn decoration for our gardens, adorning the entrance to the house or windowsill. Children will also enjoy this activity and will be happy to help you with autumn slightly spooky decorations for your house or garden.