Other Organic Pumpkin Growing Tips

Some larger varieties of pumpkins may need to have their vines trained to keep the stems from cracking. Ohio State University Extension recommends that you move the vines about 80 to 90 degrees away from the pumpkins and they get larger. You can train the vine back to the direction it was growing about 3 feet in from the pumpkin. Be extra careful when moving your pumpkins so that you don’t bend and crack the stem.

As your pumpkins develop, the foliage will naturally protect them from the sun. However, an extra layer of shading maybe useful to help the pumpkin achieve its maximum size. Try using a shade structure made of burlap to shade your pumpkins.

If you have a specific question about your pumpkins, you should contact your local extension agent. This site, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) can help.

Many local Universities also have websites devoted to horticulture tips.

Utah State University also has a great PDF file with tips on how to grow pumpkins.