Pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima

Pumpkins are one of the most fun crops to grow, especially with children, and perfectly suited to the UK climate. From small, sweet-fleshed pie pumpkins to enormous exhibition specimens, there's a variety for every garden. Sow seeds on their edge in individual 9cm pots in late April, germinating on a warm windowsill at 20°C. Plant out after the last frost (late May–early June) into a well-prepared planting hole enriched with plenty of well-rotted manure or compost — pumpkins are hungry, thirsty plants. Space plants 1.5–2m apart as the trailing vines can spread 3–4m. Water generously, especially once the fruits start swelling, and feed fortnightly with a high-potash tomato fertiliser. For larger fruits, limit each plant to 2–3 pumpkins by removing additional female flowers. Place a tile or straw pad under developing fruits to prevent rot from ground contact. Harvest before the first frost when the skin has hardened and the stem has begun to dry — the skin should resist a thumbnail pressed into it. Cure in the sun for 10 days to harden the skin, then store in a cool, dry place. Well-cured pumpkins can last 3–6 months. 'Crown Prince' (blue-grey, superb flavour) and 'Jack of All Trades' (classic orange) are excellent UK varieties.

Plan where to grow Pumpkin using our vegetable garden planner.