The Watering Tip That Will Keep Your Growing Pumpkins Happy

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So, you've planted your heirloom pumpkins and are dreaming of cleaning seeds and roasting them for delicious pepitas, carving Jack-o-Lanterns, and even using the pumpkin guts in a gorgeous autumnal soup. Congratulations on the new additions to your garden! Knowing how often to water your veggie garden is something of a tricky matter, of course, but, with gourds like pumpkins — which are actually members of the cucurbit family that includes squash, melons, and cucumbers — you also need to be cognizant of the way you water them as well.

While most plants can be watered right from the top, or, alternatively, around the base of the plant, these aren't the right options for growing pumpkins that naturally sit on the ground. Getting water on the stem can cause rot, getting water on the leaves can cause powdery mildew, and getting the fruits themselves wet can cause premature decay. The answer with pumpkins is actually to water them in a wide circle around two feet in circumference from the plant. Don't worry, the water will find its way to the roots and your pumpkins will be well-hydrated. 

Pumpkin plants need around one inch of water a week, whether that comes from manual watering, irrigation, or the sky above. Knowing how much water Mother Nature has contributed to the cause can be difficult, which is why many gardeners swear by a tall, easy-to-read outdoor rain gauge for quickly assessing the water your plants have received by way of precipitation.

Keeping your pumpkins watered right is a great step towards producing fat, bright gourds that will look and taste delicious in the fall, but it's not the only one. Gardeners classify pumpkins as "heavy feeders" that need a ton of nutrient assistance to grow adequately, which typically means weekly doses of fertilizer. Whether you opt for a commercial fertilizer like Miracle-Gro or nurture a healthy crop of compost from kitchen scraps, you'll be allowing your plant babies to soak in vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. 

Since you have it anyway and would just pour it down the drain, you can also give your pumpkins a treat and repurpose leftover potato water in your garden. Many home gardeners go straight for the good stuff — well, what counts as "good stuff" to plants, anyway! — and dump a full bucket of well-aged manure directly beneath their growing plants. Smells bad, but deposits oh-so-much nutrition into the soil for your hungry pumpkin!

You should also take the time to mulch around your pumpkins for a number of reasons. Mulch holds onto water for the plant, it prevents troublesome weeds, and it is another step that staves off rotting since the fruits won't directly touch the soil. Pumpkins like wood chips or straw for mulch. Feel free to scatter it generously. With a lot of sunlight, which is absolutely free, you will have everything you need to grow picture-perfect pumpkins.