If you thought you couldn't have a pumpkin patch in a city garden you are wrong. Here is how I grow a variety of pumpkins in my small yard. Think vertical. Growing pumpkin vines do take a lot of room but it you grow your pumpkins vertically on supports, you can keep them from taking over your yard.
Below you can see some of my vines on the left. I have large tomato cages in the planter with tomato plants growing in the center. The vines kind of climb up and through and I trim branches that wander where I don't want them.
In the back here I use the fencing from the old chicken run to support vines now. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and pumpkins all on this fence.
Water and feed regularly with compost tea and you will have lots of pumpkins come fall. You should plant your vines from May to mid June for a fall harvest. I take a pile of my homemade compost and make a hill that I plant three seeds in.
Here you can see a healthy one ready to be picked. They say to wait till the vines die back but I just trim them off the vine when they are bright orange and they last fine in the shade till October. I need the space to start new crops so I cut back the vines when I harvest my pumpkins.
One tip for supporting your pumpkins when you grow them vertically is to make slings for them. Here my hubby took an old rag and tied it up around the pumpkin and over the tomato cage. Works wonderfully.
I've ever seen anyone do that and its a genius idea. Your garden is really very pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful yard you have! That's a great idea with the pumpkins. I need to store it away for next year.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea and your garden looks great! We've been thinking about doing this, but just didn't know how. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas! I would like to start growing pumpkins again.
ReplyDeleteGreat garden!! I am growing butternut squash for the first time and I am growing it up. http://www.dianarambles.com/2013/07/frugal-raised-garden-bed.html
ReplyDeleteIi hadn't realised there was so much involved.....but then....I've only ever seen them grown horizontally! Joan
ReplyDeleteYou utilize every inch of your space so wisely! I love it!!!!
ReplyDeletexo Kris
Such a neat way to grow a garden! Love those beautiful pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of growing them on the coop fence. I going to try that next year,since my pumpkins like too take over my garden every year.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what you did with the weight of the pumkin!!
ReplyDeleteNeat idea!
What a great idea! We have some pumpkins growing on the ground and they are taking up so much space. I like the idea of growing them up!
ReplyDeletePS - Thanks for the sweet comment on my Friday post. I will try to link up to the blog hop this week! Sometimes it's hard to get around to all the hops.
Amazing stuff. And cute!
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask you how you stop them falling off the vines, with the slings it looks like a pumpkin hospital.
ReplyDeleteMerle.....
Now that is a good lookin' Pumpkin!!I'm very impressed!!
ReplyDeleteThese are good tips. Thank you! *pin
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I have never seen that - but that is one of the smartest things I have ever seen. Are they pumpkins from this year already? Lovely. sandie
ReplyDeleteThose are perfect pumpkins too! They'll last until October without rotting after being picked? Amazing...I did not know that!
ReplyDeleteYour lawn and garden are so neat and well-kept and pretty to look at.
Consider yourself pinned! Love your garden!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I have not grown pumpkins this way, but had cantaloupes that loved climbing, and the fruit hung on until it was ready...amazing! When they hit the ground they were ready to eat yum!
ReplyDeleteI guess any plant that runs would be able to climb :)
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I thought that I'd at least try mini-pumpkins this year and the grand kids were very excited to see the first flowers. I planted a few seeds in a huge container. Did the same with green beans. Too many torrential rains and containers flooding...even dumping excess water out they were too wet. So maybe next year! :) At least everything else ( in regular dirt or raised beds ) is ok :)
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