What is the optimal pumpkin planting time?

As with most things, wise judgment must be employed for pumpkins if we would raise hardy, thriving plants and get satisfactory crops. They love heat. The soil should have a temperature of at least sixty-five degrees before this seed is sown. I tried planting when the soil was less than that temperature, and the plants didn't come up at all. You may depend on local frosts and cater to your locality; plant from ten days to two weeks after your calendar indicates the time. Never plant until you have tested the ground with a thermometer.

Practice succession planting every two weeks up until midsummer. This practice pays off with a much-extended harvest window. I do this from May through July in my zone 6 garden. You have the benefit of a continuous yield instead of a one-shot deal. Watch soil moisture during heat waves!

Microclimates. Some areas of your garden will warm before others. South- and west-facing slopes are heated more quickly than flat low-lying areas. I gain a fortnight or more at the start of the season from planting next to our hot brick garden wall. Therefore, you need to plant according to your individual garden's variations and check the soil temperatures of each bed each season to ensure accuracy.

Indoor Seed Starting is a fantastic way to get a head start that is especially useful if you garden in a short-season or chilly area. Start the transplants 3 to 4 weeks before they can be put outdoors. Use biodegradable pots; you don't want to traumatize sensitive seedlings with repotting! In my garden, I "harden off" seedlings for seven days before planting. Hardening off allows them to avoid transplant shock and aids rapid growth.

Read the full article: How to Grow Pumpkins Successfully