Growing your own pumpkins gives you built-in fall decorations as well as hearty and tasty additions to your table as the weather begins to turn cold. Pumpkin plants need rather long growing seasons to allow the large gourds time to mature -- often 100 to 120 days. The plants peek out of the ground quickly, but they take their time to develop just the right pumpkins.
For those who work best with instant gratification, pumpkin plants are an ideal option. The large seeds germinate quickly, typically in four to six days. Two leaves peek through and begin to open almost immediately. The leaves appear curled at first, then they begin to open and grow larger as the vine begins to develop a longer stalk. You have to plant early, usually in mid-May to early June, to give the plant time to finish growing before the first frost hits in the fall.
Flowers and Fruit
Before the pumpkins can develop, flowers must bloom on the pumpkin plants. It normally takes about about four weeks for the flowers to start to bud. The plant has both male and female flowers that require cross-pollinating, which is usually handled by bees. After the plant blooms for two to three weeks, you should spot tiny pumpkin balls beginning to appear. They grow fairly fast at first, often increasing in size noticeably overnight for the first few days.
Depending on the size of the pumpkin variety you planted, the pumpkins should reach maturity at around 100 days. Pumpkins larger than 25 pounds might take 120 days, while small cucurbits, often used for tabletop decorations, can be ready in as few as 80 days. You'll know the pumpkins are mature when the vines begin to wither and die and the shell turns a deep, solid orange. Don't pick them yet, however. Leave them to field-ripen for 10 to 14 days. This helps the outer shell harden, which extends the shelf life of the pumpkin.
Pumpkins can last between eight and 12 weeks if properly stored. Leaving the pumpkin stems long, about 3 to 5 inches, helps extend the shelf life. Pumpkins fare best in cool, dark areas -- such as a basement that's kept about 55 degrees Fahrenheit -- as long as the shell isn't pierced. Any type of damage, especially the cutting and hollowing out necessary to create jack-o'-lanterns, shortens the pumpkin's lifespan to five to 10 days. If you keep your fresh pumpkins in your main living area as decoration, discard them after about a month, before they begin to decay or mold.
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